Better Access to Care for Tasmanians Affected by Dementia
An innovative nurse practitioner pilot project is improving access to primary health care for older Australians in Tasmania.
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Joint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform
Senator Carol Brown
Senator for Tasmania
Senator Lisa Singh
Senator for Tasmania
16 May 2012An innovative nurse practitioner pilot project is improving access to primary health care for older Australians in Tasmania.
The Gillard Government is providing more than $600,000 to the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre for the project, which sees a nurse practitioner with a specialist dementia focus provide health care to older Tasmanians.
The Nurse Practitioner is working across several sites including GP surgeries in Lauderdale and Bellerive Quay, a memory clinic and the specialist Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today joined Tasmanian Senators Carol Brown and Lisa Singh to meet Hazel Bucher, the nurse practitioner, and view a demonstration cognitive assessment.
“Many older people are choosing to remain at home as they age so the need for comprehensive community aged care is increasing. The nurse practitioner pilot is an extremely innovative project that is investigating how we can effectively provide care for older people living in the community and in aged care homes, who might not otherwise be able to access primary care,” Senator Carol Brown said.
Nurse practitioners can assess and manage clients, directly refer clients to other healthcare professionals, prescribe medication and order diagnostic investigations.
“As our population ages, there will be an increase in the number of people requiring more complex support and care. Highly skilled aged care staff will be essential to delivering this care and improving quality of life for older Australians. That’s why it’s so important we look at better ways to support staff in both residential and community aged care settings,” Senator Singh said.
Mr Butler said the Government is committed to providing better care and support to older Australians, including a comprehensive plan to tackle dementia which is expected to affect 1 million Australians by 2050.
“As part of the Government’s $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better package of reforms, $268 million has been committed to tackling dementia, from when people first approach their GP with the early signs of dementia through to when they need a very high level of aged care,” Mr Butler said.
“In our package, there is more support for people seeking a diagnosis of dementia, better hospital care and increased funding to recognise the higher costs associated with caring for people with dementia in aged care settings.”
The Wicking project is one of 32 projects being funded nationwide.
The University of Canberra will undertake a national evaluation of all 32 pilot projects and the Government will use the evaluation to inform best practice health care for older Australians.
For more information, contact the minister’s office on 02 6277 7280.
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