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In a direct response to Royal Commission recommendations for the delivery of specialised dementia care, the Australian government has invested a further $16 million to bring in what they have dubbed a 'new era in dementia respite care.'
Within the past fortnight the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has announced a further $8 million in grants for the expansion of the ‘Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers’ program.
The funds will support eight aged care providers across Western Australia and the Northern Territory to facilitate "carer education and wellbeing supports, respite care planning and dementia-specific respite training to enhance the skills and strengthen the capacity of the aged care sector."
Minister Wells said that, since the program was established, a total of $60.1 million has been allocated to the improvement of dementia respite care in Australia.
“The Albanese Government is committed to delivering practical, high-quality dementia-focused initiatives to support people with dementia, their families and carers," Minister Wells said.
“This support is part of larger reform that’s focused on supporting older people and their carers, through dementia-specific services in the community and residential aged care settings.”
A further $8 million is being used to bolster access to education and support services for aged care workers.
The Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring Project (DREAM) is a collaborative effort between The University of Tasmania's Wicking Dementia Centre and Dementia Support Australia and has been fully funded by the Australian government.
Distinguished Professor James Vickers, director of the Wicking Centre, said that government funding will allow DREAM to provide vital upskilling for free.
“We have worked closely with those involved in respite care and Dementia Support Australia to identify the key learning and support needs of the respite sector.”
“Together we have developed a suite of education to improve knowledge of dementia, plan for a successful respite experience, understand the importance of knowing the person living with dementia, build relationships and communication, and navigate behaviour in respite care.”
It is estimated that more than 421,000 Australians are currently living with dementia and projections show that number could almost double by 2054.
Dementia Australia chief Professor Tanya Buchanan said that with the growing prevalence of dementia in Australia, improvements to respite services are imperative.
“We know from consultation with people living with dementia, their families and carers that access to both planned and emergency respite services remains a challenge,” Professor Buchanan said.
“Regular access to respite care for carers is vital. It can prevent burnout, reduce stress and improve the quality of care provided to people living with dementia."
Aged care providers and staff are now able to sign up to DREAM at https://dream.utas.edu.au/
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