Putting dementia on the radar
The projected doubling in the number of Australians who will have dementia by 2030 will have an unprecedented impact on the health system if governments don’t take immediate action, warns Alzheimer’s Australia CEO, Glenn Rees.
In a speech to Australia’s Ageing Population Summit, in Brisbane, recently, Rees outlined his vision for world class dementia care for all Australians, calling on governments at all levels to take immediate action in primary care, acute care and prevention.
“Alzheimer’s Australia has argued that dementia is a chronic condition that would benefit from coordinated care planning. I believe there is a need to provide incentives through Medicare to promote timely and accurate diagnosis and ongoing support for people with dementia and their family carers.
“Australia should follow the lead of the UK National Healthcare Service in developing a five year strategy to train all GPs in dementia diagnosis and to support them with specialist services,” Rees said.
It is often overlooked that dementia is more than just a medical condition. It is also a social condition which attracts stigma, social isolation and discrimination. A major public awareness campaign that promotes a greater understanding of dementia and the steps people can take to reduce the risk of dementia is long overdue.
In 2005, Australia became the first country in the world to adopt dementia as a National health Priority, an acknowledgement of the economic and social impact of dementia. Australia can be proud that other countries are now following our lead.
Although the Dementia Initiative has achieved a great deal, a new vision for a world class dementia care system is needed if Australia is to position itself to provide the growth in services necessary to care for the 430,000 Australians who will have dementia by 2030 and the 730,000 who will have dementia by 2050.
“The 2010 Budget will be critical for people living with dementia and there will be a need to address new priorities as well as to build on what has been learnt through the Dementia Initiative,” Rees said.
