The Federal Government’s new 10-year Dementia Action Plan has been unveiled. The plan aims to provide a framework outlining how dementia care in Australia should be improved. It was designed based on input from dementia patients, their families, and carers.
So what’s included in the Dementia Action Plan?
The action plan is made up of 7 actions. These are:
Promote Equity and human rights
This action aims to ensure everyone has equal access to care regardless of their background.
Challenges
• Rights not upheld: There is a perception that people with dementia cannot make decisions regarding their day-to-day lives. As a result, their human rights are often overlooked.
• Awareness & Inclusiveness: There is a need for resources that facilitate dementia inclusive societies.
• Voices excluded: People with dementia are often not included in decision-making processes
• Lack of safeguards
Tackle stigma, improve awareness & promote inclusivity
This action aims to improve community awareness about dementia.
Challenges
• Lack of understanding: Many people do not understand dementia and its impacts on different people.
• Stigma associated with dementia: there is still a stigma associated with dementia.
Empower Individuals & Communities to reduce risk where they can & delay onset and progression.
This action aims to improve Australians’ awareness of the risk factors associated with dementia and preventative actions they can take to reduce their risk.
Challenges
• Awareness: Currently, many people are not aware that there are things they can do to reduce their risk of dementia. For example, being overweight and physically inactive can increase your risk of developing dementia.
• People at risk not supported to take action: People in the early stages of dementia often lack information about actions they can take to slow its progression.
Improve dementia diagnosis & post-diagnostic care & support
This action aims to ensure that those suffering from dementia are diagnosed early. Those who have dementia should be supported to enjoy their lives as much as possible.
Challenges
• Unclear diagnostic process: There is no national pathway for accessing a dementia diagnosis. On average, people wait over a year after they first start reporting symptoms to report them to their GP.
• People don’t recognise or ignore the signs of dementia: Half of all people living with dementia never receive a formal diagnosis. Many people are not aware of the signs of dementia.
Improve treatment, coordination and support for people living with dementia.
This action aims to promote early intervention for those living with dementia. Services for severe dementia cases should be improved.
Challenges
• People fall through the gaps between different support systems: Depending on their age or the status of their dementia, people may be cared for by the health, disability or aged care system. As a result, some people do not know where to seek support.
Support carers of people living with dementia
This action aims to improve carers’ knowledge of dementia and its progression. Respite options should also be improved to better support the carers of those living with dementia.
Build the capability of the workforce to care for and support people living with dementia.
This action aims to strengthen dementia training for the workforce. It is essential anyone working with people with dementia, whether it is healthcare or community services, receives training to improve their understanding of dementia.
Challenges
• Not enough workers: Due to extensive staff shortages, dementia care relies heavily on casual staff. This affects the ability to deliver quality care to those living with dementia.
• Reliance on carers: There is currently a huge reliance on unpaid carers, such as family members, to care for those living with dementia, placing extreme stress and pressure on them.
Those living with dementia deserve to live with autonomy and dignity and receive the very best care possible.
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