Time for new dementia commitment
Victoria’s body for aged care is calling for the federal government to either reverse the shock decision to cancel the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement, or implement a new funding mechanism to ensure vital care needs are properly supported from 1 August 2014.
LASA Victoria's president, Ingrid Williams, says the axing of the dementia supplement means the Department of Social Services fails to correctly estimate the need for the supplement.
The sudden decision by government to cease $110 million of this vital funding supplement without any industry consultation was a “huge blow” to the provision of essential services to those living with the most severe and debilitating symptoms of dementia, according to Leading Age Services Australia – Victoria (LASA Victoria) president Ingrid Williams.
“The Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement was designed to provide essential resources for the care of people with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia,” Ms Williams said.
“Funding was committed for much needed specialist care. It is currently used by Victorian aged care providers to assess, monitor and evaluate persons with behaviours that greatly impact their quality of life to ensure they are receiving the best possible care in the most appropriate environment for their needs.”
It is also being utilised to provide dementia specific education for staff, support lifestyle programs and diversional therapy to engage and assist residents with difficult behaviours and also to employ additional, often specialised, staff to care for those living with dementia.
“After the shock removal of the supplement, these services are now at serious risk of ending suddenly on 31 July. Our providers are being forced to cut training programs, review staffing models put building development and maintenance plans on hold and review all aspects of the viability of their organisation,” Ms Williams said.
She added while expenditure on the supplement had exceeded expectations, this demonstrated a failure by the Department of Social Services to correctly estimate the need for the supplement, not the vital care it was supporting.
“The number of frail older Australians requiring this specialised care was clearly underestimated by the department. The blunt cancellation of the supplement seems more about cost cutting than addressing the care needs for our ageing population,” Ms Williams said.
“However, despite the frustrations felt by many providers of age services, LASA Victoria and the industry continues to stand ready and willing to work with the government; either through the reversal of the decision to cancel the supplement, or through a new and sustainable funding mechanism from 1 August.
“Those who each day receive care, and those who each day provide care to older Australians with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, deserve clarification regarding how this care is being supported from 1 August.”
