Tuesday 2 July 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the announcement by the Andrews Government that an additional 5,000 carers in Victoria will be able to access 100,000 hours of respite each year.
Dementia Australia CEO Ms Maree McCabe said that the role of a carer is often critical for a loved one with dementia to continue to live in the community and is becoming increasingly important as dementia prevalence rates continue to rise.
Monday 1 July 2019
Dementia Australia congratulates Robert Fitzgerald AM for his appointment as New South Wales’ first Ageing and Disability Commissioner.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see the New South Wales Government’s commitment to this new appointment, especially as the number of people living with dementia continues to rise.
Monday 1 July 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the new Charter of Aged Care Rights and Aged Care Quality Standards, both come into effect as of today, as a reinforcement of the commitment by governments and the aged care industry to focus more strongly on consumer choice and engagement.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the new Charter and Standards would benefit people living with dementia, their families and carers.
Friday 28 June 2019
Dementia Australia has urged the Federal Government to take action to better support the more than 129,000 older Australians who are waiting to receive home care packages.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said as the prevalence of dementia continues to increase so does the need for home care packages.
Monday 24 June 2019
Dementia Australia is calling for the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to reflect the need for culturally appropriate, person-centred care, where the services provided are sensitive to, respectful of, and responsive to, the preferences, needs and values of people from diverse backgrounds including those who care for them.
Friday 21 June 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the South Australian Government’s budget announcement to allocate $537 million in additional funds to build a better health system.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see $69.1 million over the next four years allocated to the reactivation of the Repatriation General Hospital site, where planning continues for dementia care and older persons mental health services.
Thursday 20 June 2019
A new program to assist people living with dementia access vital support services and information is being trialled in Perth – one of just two dementia-specific trial sites in Australia. The Dementia Care Navigator Trial, delivered by Dementia Australia, aims to provide tailored information to identify and connect clients with appropriate support and services.
Thursday 19 June 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the New South Wales Government’s budget announcement to allocate additional funds to providing more nurses, doctors and other frontline health workers, and delivering new and upgraded hospitals.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see funding of more than $10 billion over the next four years on health infrastructure, as well as providing support for multicultural aged care homes across the state.
Friday 14 June 2019
Dementia Australia is calling for people living with dementia to be a focus of this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe says that elder abuse is a serious issue that impacts the wellbeing of a large number of older Australians, especially those who are living with dementia.
Friday 14 June 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the Australian Capital Territory Government’s budget announcement to spend additional funds on palliative care services and improved infrastructure for acute aged care.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see the investment of $2 million in palliative care services, as part of a $6 million investment over four years.
Monday 10 June 2019
Dementia Australia congratulates long-time Ambassador, supporter and advocate Ita Buttrose, who today has been awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours for eminent service to the community through leadership in the media, the arts and the health sector, and as a role model.
Friday 31 May 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the Victorian Government’s budget announcement to spend additional funds on improving multicultural aged care facilities and palliative services.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see the funding of $27.1 million to upgrade facilities at seven multicultural aged care services and to purchase land for three multicultural aged care providers for culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians get the care they need and deserve.
Monday 27 May 2019
Dementia Australia acknowledges the Tasmanian State Government for its commitment of $850,000 to develop and implement a new strategy for the prevention of elder abuse.
Dementia Australia CEO, Ms Maree McCabe commends Tasmania’s state government for funding the new strategy as part of its 2019-20 budget.
Monday 27 May 2019
Dementia Australia welcomes the reappointment of The Hon Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Health and congratulates the new Ministers that will impact on dementia, including the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck.
Monday 20 May 2019
Dementia Australia celebrates and thanks the many volunteers that contribute to making a ‘world of difference’ for the 447,000 people living with dementia this National Volunteers Week.
Two volunteers and friends that make a world of difference to Dementia Australia are Jill Edmondson and Dianne Hall.
Thursday 16 May 2019
Discrimination experienced by people living with dementia, their families and carers will be the focus of this year’s national Dementia Action Week*, 16-22 September.
Dementia Australia CEO, Maree McCabe said the annual national awareness campaign will be centred around a national survey to inform and increase our understanding of the experiences and perspectives around discrimination, and what can be done to bring about positive change.
Sunday 12 May 2019
Dementia Australia has welcomed Labor’s election commitment to improving the care of Australians living with dementia to be a national priority.
Dementia Australia Chair, Professor Graeme Samuel AC said the 447,000 Australians currently living with dementia and the 1.5 million people involved in their care will be heartened by the declared commitment to dementia by Mr Shorten today.
Friday 10 May 2019
The focus on dementia and aged care in Sydney this week at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has reinforced Dementia Australia’s call for mandatory dementia-specific training for the aged care workforce, and for increases in staffing numbers with the appropriate skills mix.
Dementia Australia Chair, Professor Graeme Samuel AC said listening to the experiences shared by the witnesses has been harrowing.
Friday 3 May 2019
Dementia Australia applauds both the governments’ and the opposition’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians as outlined in recent policy announcements.
Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia said the health focus so far in the federal election campaign is to be commended yet there is a glaring gap in the rhetoric and the needs of close to half a million people living with dementia have been largely ignored.
Wednesday 1 May 2019
In the lead up to the federal election, people living with dementia and carers are asking all Australians to call on their local Members of Parliament and candidates to make dementia a priority in their visions for Australia.
Dementia Australia Chair Prof Graeme Samuel AC said the prevalence of dementia is growing exponentially and Australia needs decisive action and national investment to ensure the outcomes for people living with dementia are adequately considered.