Support and links service program statement 2006-09

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Introduction

It is estimated that dementia affects 5-8% of people 65 years of age, and by 85 years of age 25% will show evidence of cognitive impairment consistent with dementia. It was estimated that in 2001 there were 39,800 Victorians 65 and over with dementia. By the year 2011 this figure will have increased to 49,500.

Counselling, support and information have been identified as areas of unmet need both for people with dementia and for their families and carers. With the increasing trend towards early diagnosis of dementia, individuals with early symptoms of the condition are seeking counselling, support and information about their changing circumstances and future. Counselling, support and information can assist people from the diagnosis of dementia through to the stage at which residential care is required. Families and carers of people with dementia also seek access to ongoing counselling, support and information to cope with the enormous demands of caring. Counselling, support and information have been identified as key components for carers particularly during transitional periods, such as after a care recipient’s placement in residential care, or death.

There are a number of organisations involved in providing services to people with dementia, and their families and carers. Some of these services provide a specialist service:

• Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS)
• Aged Persons Mental Health Community Teams
• Dementia carer support workers associated with the carer initiatives and carer respite centres
• The Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) clinics
• Alzheimer’s Australia Vic,

while others form a part of the mainstream service system through:

• the Home and Community Care (HACC) program
• acute hospital system
• residential care.

The majority of people with dementia live in the community and access a range of these services over time. Continuity of care and cooperative working relationships between agencies are critical to provide appropriate support to people with dementia, and their families and carers. For cooperation to occur and local community needs to be met, services need to understand each other’s role, and how other service providers can contribute to the care of people with a dementing illness and their families and carers.

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Support and links service program statement 2006-09 (23kb, pdf)

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