Alzheimer’s Australia welcomes age care reforms

Ita Buttrose, President of Alzheimer’s Australia, said the Government’s package showed that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, have not only listened to people with dementia but have responded comprehensively to their priorities.     

“Thousands have spoken out about the failings of the health and care system in relation to dementia; the Government’s decisions are both a reward and a relief to those 280,000 Australians with dementia and their 1.2 million carers,” Ms Buttrose said.  

“The centre piece of the reforms from a consumer point of view is the strengthening of the community care system to make it possible for people with dementia to stay at home longer.  

“This is central to any strategy for consumer choice, as is the emphasis in the reforms to empower consumers to have more say over the services they need, when they need them and who delivers them.”   

The Government’s proposals for tackling dementia address the key priorities in the Fight Dementia Campaign particularly; timely diagnosis; improving the quality of dementia care; improving acute care services; support for people with younger onset dementia; and expanded support through the National Dementia Support Program to improve access to better coordinated services.   

“There remains a concern about increasing the level of investment in dementia research but this is an issue that Alzheimer’s Australia will be pursuing vigorously through the Minister’s review of Scientific and Medical Funding in Australia,” Ms Buttrose said.  

“It’s great to see a genuine focus on dementia in the aged care reforms.  

“Dementia is getting the attention it deserves.”  

Ms Buttrose thanked Minister Butler for taking the dementia issue to Cabinet and getting a good result in a difficult budget.

To download a copy of this media release click here.
For details on the full aged Care Reform package click here.
For details on how the government is tackling dementia click here.
For information on Alzheimer's Australia's report Consumer Engagement in the Aged Care Reform Process, click here.