The Albanese Government is providing more than $27 million in grant funding for innovative approaches to respite care for older Australians living with dementia and their carers.
Successful projects will support families and informal carers of a person living with dementia through access to dementia–specific respite services in five jurisdictions.
The grants will support innovative approaches to enhancing the quality and experience of respite care for people with dementia, carer education and wellbeing and improving respite care planning.
There are two streams of activities and aged care providers may apply for funding under one or both streams.
- Stream 1: Delivery of combined respite care for both the carer and person with dementia, applying the principles of HammondCare’s Staying at Home program in Tasmania, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
- Stream 2: Delivery of innovative programs or models of respite care and respite care planning for people with dementia and their carers, in Tasmania, Northern Territory, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
The grant opportunity closes at 2pm (ADST), Monday 18 December 2023.
For more information visit: Improving respite care for people living with dementia and their carers .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:
“The Albanese Government is committed to delivering practical, dementia-focused, initiatives to ensure people living with dementia, their families and carers receive the support they deserve.
“Caring for a loved one with dementia can be incredibly challenging. Respite services can make all the difference in enabling an older person living with dementia, to stay at home for longer, while also looking after the wellbeing of their carers and family.
“These grants are part of broader reform program aimed at lifting support for older people and their carers, through dementia-specific services in the community and in residential aged care settings.”