Minister Welcomes Findings Of Dementia Initiative Evaluation

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PDF printable version of Minister Welcomes Findings Of Dementia Initiative Evaluation (PDF 25 KB)

1 October 2010

Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler has welcomed the release of the independent evaluation of the Dementia Initiative, which will help shape future priorities in supporting people with dementia and their carers.

The Dementia Initiative seeks to ensure all Australians have access to high quality health services and supportive care services, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health and aged care sectors to provide prevention, intervention, assessment, treatment and care for people with dementia.

LAMA assessed the performance of the Dementia Initiative and found that it has made a substantial contribution to supporting people living with dementia and their carers, and that early successes of the Initiative could be built on and consolidated.
“We know that 250,000 Australians have dementia‪, and that one million more Australians are affected by dementia, usually family carers,” Mr Butler said.
“The projections into the future are even more daunting, with almost 600,000 Australians projected to be living with dementia by 2030.
“The extensive evaluation of the Dementia Initiative is going to be an important marker for how we move forward in this area.”

Mr Butler has invited submissions from the public, and the health and aged care sectors to comment on the evaluation, with all submissions to be considered by the Minister and his Dementia Advisory Group. Submissions close at midnight on Friday 5 November.

Mr Butler will meet with the Dementia Advisory Group in November to discuss the recommendations contained in the evaluation.

For more information , please contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7280

Background

• An independent evaluation of the Dementia Initiative was conducted from March 2006 to February 2009 by a consortium comprising La Trobe University, Applied Aged Care Solutions, Melbourne University and Access Economics (LAMA).

• The Australian Government has committed to the ongoing support of the Dementia Initiative. About $177 million is allocated for 2010 – 11 for the Dementia Initiative to support people with dementia, their families and carers. This includes around:
  1. $146 million a year for Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Packages that provide services to people with dementia in their own homes;
  2. $24 million a year for dementia research, prevention, early intervention and improved care initiatives, including research grants offered through the National Health and Medical Research Council and funding for three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres; and
  3. $7 million for training for aged and community care staff, carers and community workers including police and ambulance workers.
• Major components of the Dementia Initiative, including the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services (DBMAS) and National Dementia Support Program (NDSP) have been extended until June 2013. Over the next three years (2010-13), $32.9 million (GST exclusive) is committed to the DBMAS and a total of $25.4 million (GST exclusive) is committed to Alzheimer’s Australia for the NDSP.

• An additional $2 million was provided to Alzheimer’s Australia in the 2009-10 financial year for activities over and above its core activities. This included a contribution of $200,000 towards the risk reduction program Mind Your Mind. This is in addition to the $185,000 provided in the previous year.

• Submissions can be sent via email to dementia@health.gov.au or via post to: