Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP)

About the program

The SDCP supports people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia who cannot be cared for in a mainstream residential aged care facility. 

The SDCP provides specialised care for people: 

• who live with very severe dementia complicated by physical aggression or other behaviours 
• whose residential care facility or carers cannot manage the behaviours, even with help from other services. 

The SDCP provides: 

• person-centred care from staff with dementia training 
• support from specialist services 
• a small, cottage-like, dementia-friendly living environment. 

Goals

The program aims to: 

• provide best-practice care, without restraints, in a dementia-friendly environment 
• reduce or stabilise a person’s behavioural and psychological symptoms within 12 months, on average 
• support the person’s move into less intensive care settings when they no longer need SDCP care 
• work alongside state and territory government services, Dementia Support Australia and their Severe Behaviour Response Teams 
• improve quality of life for people living with very severe dementia. 

Living environments can have a big impact on quality of life for people living with dementia. SDCP units are designed to: 

• be tailored to people living with very severe dementia 
• promote familiarity, stimulation and independence 
• reduce risks. 

The SDCP works with key stakeholders to: 

• assess and refine the SDCP model 
• make sure the model provides the best possible care for people who have very severe dementia symptoms 
• form relationships with local health networks, acute mental health services and allied health services 
• draw on these relationships for expertise for clinical guidance and support when needed. 

Why it is important

We estimate that up to 1% of all people living with dementia: 

• have very severe behavioural or psychological symptoms 
• cannot be cared for in mainstream aged care services. 

It’s important we have services that can meet their specialised needs to: 

• help reduce and stabilise severe symptoms of dementia 
• improve their quality of life and independence. 

The number of people with dementia is rising in Australia. It’s important to help aged care services develop best practice care for all people with dementia. 

Eligibility

A person is eligible for SDCP if: 

• they have dementia 
• they have very severe behavioural or psychological symptoms of dementia, which may include: 
• aggression 
• severe agitation 
• vocalisation, such as talking constantly, cursing or screaming 
• severe depression or anxiety 
• being suicidal 
• the behaviours have lasted at least 3 months 
• other specialist services have not been able to reduce the behaviours 
• they have had an aged care needs assessment. 

Referring someone to the SDCP

Dementia Support Australia will assess a person’s eligibility for the SDCP. This ensures a nationally consistent referral pathway for the program. 

Anyone can make a referral to the SDCP by using the Dementia Support Australia referral form. 

Referrals are open for all the units in operation. 

To find out more about the eligibility requirements and the assessment for eligibility, please visit the Dementia Support Australia website. 

Locations of the SDCP Units

We aim to establish 35 SDCP units nationally. 

The SDCP units currently operating across Australia are outlined below with additional units expected to become operational across 2025. 

SDCP Information Booklet

How the SDCP works

Program framework

Length of stay, fees and security of tenure

The length of stay in an SDCP unit varies for each person, generally up to 12 months.

When a person no longer needs the specialist care, SDCP providers will plan and support the person’s move into a less intensive care setting. Generally, this will be a bed within the provider’s facility. It depends on what the person or their representative wants. SDCP fees are the same as residential aged care fees.

To find out more, read this fact sheet.

Program evaluation

Applying for funding as a provider

Future funding rounds will be advertised for approved aged care providers in Primary Health Network regions currently without a SDCP unit throughout 2025 to 2026.

Further details on the grant and application process can be found by searching Specialist Dementia Care Program GO5304 on GrantConnect.

Register on GrantConnect to receive automatic emails about new SDCP grant opportunities.

Who we work with

The Department of Health and Aged Care develops program policy and manages the funding for the program.

A partnership agreement between the Australian Government and the state and territory governments provides the clinical support for the program.

Approved residential aged care providers can apply for program grants to set up units in their facility.

Contact