It is deeply concerning to hear that the government's initiatives to ease the burden of dementia on families and provide adequate specialised care are not being met as scheduled.

It appears that the Australian Government has fallen short in its commitment to provide sufficient dementia care as only 12 of the 35 specialist dementia units, part of the Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP), have been established and made operational.

This is far from the government's promise back in 2016 to have these units up and running by 2023.

Only 12 out of 35 specialist dementia units are operational this year. Credit: Kindel Media

It is understood that the number of people suffering from dementia is rapidly rising.

The initiation of the SDCP aimed to set up 35 residential aged care homes across Australia and was designed to accommodate individuals with unmanageable dementia symptoms in mainstream facilities.

These units were expected to be staffed with specially trained professionals and have a registered nurse available 24 hours a day.

The original plan was to have the first 14 units operational by 2020 and the remaining 21 units by the end of 2023.

However, a federal government spokesman told reporters that only 12 units have been opened, and an additional six units are expected to come into operation by the end of 2024.

The spokesman did not provide any information on when the total of 35 units would be operational or state any cause for these major delays.

A government spokesperson did not provide answers to why there have been delays. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

The conversation surrounding the ability of residential aged care facilities to care for the growing number of Australians with severe cognitive impairment comes after the tragic case of Clare Nowland.

The 95-year-old woman who had dementia faced the tragic consequences of inadequate dementia care. She was tasered by a police officer while attempting to use her walking frame and holding a steak knife inside her residential aged care home.

Questions have since been raised regarding the reason for calling the police and the level of dementia training the staff at her aged care home had received.

Despite it being the leading cause of disease burden in elderly Australians, dementia training is not a mandatory requirement for aged care staff.

Dr Kaele Stokes, the Executive Director of Advocacy and Research at Dementia Australia, highlighted that dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care staff. By understanding the triggers and behaviours associated with dementia, challenging situations can be avoided.

She also said that the number of Australians living with dementia was expected to exceed 800,000 by 2058.

‘By building the leadership and capability of the workforce to understand dementia better, staff will know what to do in situations where there are changed behaviours from residents,’ she said.

The final report of the royal commission into aged care, submitted to the government in 2021, echoes this sentiment, saying that ‘dementia care should be [the] core business for aged care services, and particularly [in] residential aged care services’.

However, the reality seems to be far from this recommendation.

The lack of progress has left many families expressing their concerns about the implications of inadequate dementia care for their loved ones.

Key problems include poorly trained staff, inadequate staff-to-resident ratios, and the constant rotation of personnel.

Some families also find that their complaints fall on deaf ears or yield little positive change.

Additionally, the Director of Aged Care Matters and Public Health Researcher, Dr Sarah Russell, also said that there was a lack of transparency from the government about the progress being made to assess issues in aged care.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, let's hope that raising awareness about these issues will result in expediting the process of making all specialist dementia units operational and ensuring that families receive the quality and specialised care they desperately need.

Key Takeaways

• Just 12 of the promised 35 specialist dementia units the government committed to having running by 2023 are operational, according to a health department spokesman.
• The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) was announced in 2016 to address the growing number of people with dementia and severe behavioural and psychological symptoms.
• The recent case of 95-year-old Clare Nowland has raised questions about the level of dementia training received by residential aged care staff.
• Dementia Australia's Dr Kaele Stokes says quality dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care workers, regardless of whether they work in a specialised unit.

Are you or a loved one living with dementia in a residential aged care home? Tell us your experience in the comments below.

 

[Luckyus]

It is deeply concerning to hear that the government's initiatives to ease the burden of dementia on families and provide adequate specialised care are not being met as scheduled.

It appears that the Australian Government has fallen short in its commitment to provide sufficient dementia care as only 12 of the 35 specialist dementia units, part of the Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP), have been established and made operational.

This is far from the government's promise back in 2016 to have these units up and running by 2023.

View attachment 21035

Only 12 out of 35 specialist dementia units are operational this year. Credit: Kindel Media

It is understood that the number of people suffering from dementia is rapidly rising.

The initiation of the SDCP aimed to set up 35 residential aged care homes across Australia and was designed to accommodate individuals with unmanageable dementia symptoms in mainstream facilities.

These units were expected to be staffed with specially trained professionals and have a registered nurse available 24 hours a day.

The original plan was to have the first 14 units operational by 2020 and the remaining 21 units by the end of 2023.

However, a federal government spokesman told reporters that only 12 units have been opened, and an additional six units are expected to come into operation by the end of 2024.

The spokesman did not provide any information on when the total of 35 units would be operational or state any cause for these major delays.

View attachment 21037

A government spokesperson did not provide answers to why there have been delays. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

The conversation surrounding the ability of residential aged care facilities to care for the growing number of Australians with severe cognitive impairment comes after the tragic case of Clare Nowland.

The 95-year-old woman who had dementia faced the tragic consequences of inadequate dementia care. She was tasered by a police officer while attempting to use her walking frame and holding a steak knife inside her residential aged care home.

Questions have since been raised regarding the reason for calling the police and the level of dementia training the staff at her aged care home had received.

Despite it being the leading cause of disease burden in elderly Australians, dementia training is not a mandatory requirement for aged care staff.

Dr Kaele Stokes, the Executive Director of Advocacy and Research at Dementia Australia, highlighted that dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care staff. By understanding the triggers and behaviours associated with dementia, challenging situations can be avoided.

She also said that the number of Australians living with dementia was expected to exceed 800,000 by 2058.

‘By building the leadership and capability of the workforce to understand dementia better, staff will know what to do in situations where there are changed behaviours from residents,’ she said.

The final report of the royal commission into aged care, submitted to the government in 2021, echoes this sentiment, saying that ‘dementia care should be [the] core business for aged care services, and particularly [in] residential aged care services’.

However, the reality seems to be far from this recommendation.

The lack of progress has left many families expressing their concerns about the implications of inadequate dementia care for their loved ones.

Key problems include poorly trained staff, inadequate staff-to-resident ratios, and the constant rotation of personnel.

Some families also find that their complaints fall on deaf ears or yield little positive change.

Additionally, the Director of Aged Care Matters and Public Health Researcher, Dr Sarah Russell, also said that there was a lack of transparency from the government about the progress being made to assess issues in aged care.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, let's hope that raising awareness about these issues will result in expediting the process of making all specialist dementia units operational and ensuring that families receive the quality and specialised care they desperately need.

Key Takeaways

• Just 12 of the promised 35 specialist dementia units the government committed to having running by 2023 are operational, according to a health department spokesman.
• The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) was announced in 2016 to address the growing number of people with dementia and severe behavioural and psychological symptoms.
• The recent case of 95-year-old Clare Nowland has raised questions about the level of dementia training received by residential aged care staff.
• Dementia Australia's Dr Kaele Stokes says quality dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care workers, regardless of whether they work in a specialised unit.

Are you or a loved one living with dementia in a residential aged care home? Tell us your experience in the comments below.

Knowing the current crop of politicians, they probably put someone in charge of the endeavour that is beginning that long goodnight and keeps forgetting much like political promises before an election.

 

[starrysnan]

This is a tragedy that should not be happening. Having worked in aged care dementia is a rapidly escalating part of all the challenges faced in the sector. Residents with dementia deserve the best possible care available and well trained staff are an integral part of that care. Politicians need to prioritise aged care and help those who need specialised care.

 

[Jest]

It is deeply concerning to hear that the government's initiatives to ease the burden of dementia on families and provide adequate specialised care are not being met as scheduled.

It appears that the Australian Government has fallen short in its commitment to provide sufficient dementia care as only 12 of the 35 specialist dementia units, part of the Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP), have been established and made operational.

This is far from the government's promise back in 2016 to have these units up and running by 2023.

View attachment 21035

Only 12 out of 35 specialist dementia units are operational this year. Credit: Kindel Media

It is understood that the number of people suffering from dementia is rapidly rising.

The initiation of the SDCP aimed to set up 35 residential aged care homes across Australia and was designed to accommodate individuals with unmanageable dementia symptoms in mainstream facilities.

These units were expected to be staffed with specially trained professionals and have a registered nurse available 24 hours a day.

The original plan was to have the first 14 units operational by 2020 and the remaining 21 units by the end of 2023.

However, a federal government spokesman told reporters that only 12 units have been opened, and an additional six units are expected to come into operation by the end of 2024.

The spokesman did not provide any information on when the total of 35 units would be operational or state any cause for these major delays.

View attachment 21037

A government spokesperson did not provide answers to why there have been delays. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

The conversation surrounding the ability of residential aged care facilities to care for the growing number of Australians with severe cognitive impairment comes after the tragic case of Clare Nowland.

The 95-year-old woman who had dementia faced the tragic consequences of inadequate dementia care. She was tasered by a police officer while attempting to use her walking frame and holding a steak knife inside her residential aged care home.

Questions have since been raised regarding the reason for calling the police and the level of dementia training the staff at her aged care home had received.

Despite it being the leading cause of disease burden in elderly Australians, dementia training is not a mandatory requirement for aged care staff.

Dr Kaele Stokes, the Executive Director of Advocacy and Research at Dementia Australia, highlighted that dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care staff. By understanding the triggers and behaviours associated with dementia, challenging situations can be avoided.

She also said that the number of Australians living with dementia was expected to exceed 800,000 by 2058.

‘By building the leadership and capability of the workforce to understand dementia better, staff will know what to do in situations where there are changed behaviours from residents,’ she said.

The final report of the royal commission into aged care, submitted to the government in 2021, echoes this sentiment, saying that ‘dementia care should be [the] core business for aged care services, and particularly [in] residential aged care services’.

However, the reality seems to be far from this recommendation.

The lack of progress has left many families expressing their concerns about the implications of inadequate dementia care for their loved ones.

Key problems include poorly trained staff, inadequate staff-to-resident ratios, and the constant rotation of personnel.

Some families also find that their complaints fall on deaf ears or yield little positive change.

Additionally, the Director of Aged Care Matters and Public Health Researcher, Dr Sarah Russell, also said that there was a lack of transparency from the government about the progress being made to assess issues in aged care.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, let's hope that raising awareness about these issues will result in expediting the process of making all specialist dementia units operational and ensuring that families receive the quality and specialised care they desperately need.

Key Takeaways

• Just 12 of the promised 35 specialist dementia units the government committed to having running by 2023 are operational, according to a health department spokesman.
• The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) was announced in 2016 to address the growing number of people with dementia and severe behavioural and psychological symptoms.
• The recent case of 95-year-old Clare Nowland has raised questions about the level of dementia training received by residential aged care staff.
• Dementia Australia's Dr Kaele Stokes says quality dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care workers, regardless of whether they work in a specialised unit.

Are you or a loved one living with dementia in a residential aged care home? Tell us your experience in the comments below.

euthanasia for me thank you.

 

[Elva]

It is deeply concerning to hear that the government's initiatives to ease the burden of dementia on families and provide adequate specialised care are not being met as scheduled.

It appears that the Australian Government has fallen short in its commitment to provide sufficient dementia care as only 12 of the 35 specialist dementia units, part of the Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP), have been established and made operational.

This is far from the government's promise back in 2016 to have these units up and running by 2023.

View attachment 21035

Only 12 out of 35 specialist dementia units are operational this year. Credit: Kindel Media

It is understood that the number of people suffering from dementia is rapidly rising.

The initiation of the SDCP aimed to set up 35 residential aged care homes across Australia and was designed to accommodate individuals with unmanageable dementia symptoms in mainstream facilities.

These units were expected to be staffed with specially trained professionals and have a registered nurse available 24 hours a day.

The original plan was to have the first 14 units operational by 2020 and the remaining 21 units by the end of 2023.

However, a federal government spokesman told reporters that only 12 units have been opened, and an additional six units are expected to come into operation by the end of 2024.

The spokesman did not provide any information on when the total of 35 units would be operational or state any cause for these major delays.

View attachment 21037

A government spokesperson did not provide answers to why there have been delays. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

The conversation surrounding the ability of residential aged care facilities to care for the growing number of Australians with severe cognitive impairment comes after the tragic case of Clare Nowland.

The 95-year-old woman who had dementia faced the tragic consequences of inadequate dementia care. She was tasered by a police officer while attempting to use her walking frame and holding a steak knife inside her residential aged care home.

Questions have since been raised regarding the reason for calling the police and the level of dementia training the staff at her aged care home had received.

Despite it being the leading cause of disease burden in elderly Australians, dementia training is not a mandatory requirement for aged care staff.

Dr Kaele Stokes, the Executive Director of Advocacy and Research at Dementia Australia, highlighted that dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care staff. By understanding the triggers and behaviours associated with dementia, challenging situations can be avoided.

She also said that the number of Australians living with dementia was expected to exceed 800,000 by 2058.

‘By building the leadership and capability of the workforce to understand dementia better, staff will know what to do in situations where there are changed behaviours from residents,’ she said.

The final report of the royal commission into aged care, submitted to the government in 2021, echoes this sentiment, saying that ‘dementia care should be [the] core business for aged care services, and particularly [in] residential aged care services’.

However, the reality seems to be far from this recommendation.

The lack of progress has left many families expressing their concerns about the implications of inadequate dementia care for their loved ones.

Key problems include poorly trained staff, inadequate staff-to-resident ratios, and the constant rotation of personnel.

Some families also find that their complaints fall on deaf ears or yield little positive change.

Additionally, the Director of Aged Care Matters and Public Health Researcher, Dr Sarah Russell, also said that there was a lack of transparency from the government about the progress being made to assess issues in aged care.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, let's hope that raising awareness about these issues will result in expediting the process of making all specialist dementia units operational and ensuring that families receive the quality and specialised care they desperately need.

Key Takeaways

• Just 12 of the promised 35 specialist dementia units the government committed to having running by 2023 are operational, according to a health department spokesman.
• The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) was announced in 2016 to address the growing number of people with dementia and severe behavioural and psychological symptoms.
• The recent case of 95-year-old Clare Nowland has raised questions about the level of dementia training received by residential aged care staff.
• Dementia Australia's Dr Kaele Stokes says quality dementia care should be mandatory for all aged care workers, regardless of whether they work in a specialised unit.

Are you or a loved one living with dementia in a residential aged care home? Tell us your experience in the comments below.

My 91yo mother-in-law is in the mid stages of dementia. Her well managed nursing home doesn't isolate her or similar residents from anybody. It's just one big family of visiting doctors, physios, hairdressers, entertainers, volunteers, 46 residents, RNs, nurses, maintenance gal, domestic and office staff. They all mingle and mostly all care. It's not uncommon to see one of the cleaners or maintenance people sitting for a few minutes with our mother when we visit. They manage better communication than we do. This facility is in a country setting not far from Newcastle and there are more of this company's facilities around NSW. It's a modest home with an old world feel. Maybe some of the new ones are too upmarket too much business suit and too little attention paid to the aged pulse. Some nursing homes we saw in our search a few years ago had a sad feeling. Some were high market, shiny and cold. Our girl chose this warm friendly one even tho it has an old worldy feel. All medical and other necessities are up to date though and even the comfortable coffee room for visitors and residents has a state-of-the-art fresh bean coffee maker machine.
We visited another relative (101yo) in a brand new beautiful Qld facility recently. Lovely staff and the whole place looks and feels like a resort but the room prices are huge.
Yet another relative of a friend is in an older Central Coast facility. A visit with my friend two years ago was depressing. Nobody looked happy, no smiles, no music. The place had a mouldy odor. Could have been the lingering covid and persistent rain contributing but no excuse for no music and no flowers and no smiles...
Government's can only do what they do with lengthy conference recommendations, scarce money blankets and inspector's threatening visits. Councils have to drop their shonky political ideologies et al and step up to doing more for their communities including the dementia debate. A local team made up of a couple of doctors, psychiatrists and nursing home representatives would be a start.