A $8 million investment has been announced to broaden the scope of innovative respite support programs for individuals living with dementia and their carers.
This latest funding boost is part of the ‘Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers’ program, which has now allocated a total of $60.1 million towards enhancing dementia respite services.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells emphasised the importance of this initiative: “The Albanese Government is committed to delivering practical, high-quality dementia-focused initiatives to support people with dementia, their families and carers.”
Eight new grants have been awarded to providers across four jurisdictions, focusing on two main activities. In Western Australia, the funds will support carer education and wellbeing programs that cater to both carers and individuals living with dementia. In the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Australian Capital Territory, the grants will facilitate innovative respite care programs and planning.
The program aims to improve the respite experience for people with dementia and their carers by providing access to carer education, wellbeing supports, respite care planning, and dementia-specific respite training. This approach is designed to enhance skills and strengthen the capacity of the aged care sector.
Minister Wells highlighted the growing need for such programs: “With more than 400,000 people living with dementia in Australia – a number expected to double by 2058 – programs like this are vital to looking after the health and wellbeing of our community.”
The expansion of these services is a response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care. It represents a significant step in the government’s broader reform agenda, which focuses on supporting older people and their carers through dementia-specific services in both community and residential aged care settings.
“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,” Minister Wells added.
