Page 3014 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
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Consciousness is not clouded. The cognitive impairments are commonly accompanied by and occasionally preceded by reduction in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation. The dementia syndrome occurs in Alzheimer's disease, in cerebro-vascular disease, and in other conditions affecting the brain. The number of people with dementia in urban societies is estimated to be 5.4 per cent of the population aged 65 and over.
Australian statistics for 1992 indicate that approximately 120,000 Australians suffer from moderate to severe dementia, with the same number suffering early to mild stages of the disease. Projected figures from 1991 to 1996 show an expected increase of nearly 20 per cent in the number of people suffering from the disease. This increase is due in part to better protection rates and medico awareness, and also to better community awareness and understanding of the condition. This growth in the number of those suffering from Alzheimer's disease is well over the expected 13 per cent increase of those aged 65 and over. In the ACT, these figures translate as 5.4 per cent of the about 15,000 persons aged 65 and over. Therefore by 1996 it is anticipated that there will be a further 810 dementia sufferers in the ACT.
Government responsibility for services for sufferers and those who care for them is divided between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. In 1992 the Commonwealth announced one of the most significant steps in providing a national approach to dementia care - the national action plan for dementia care entitled "Putting the Pieces Together". This plan provides a framework for national goals that include access to quality community care, access to quality residential care, and quality of life. One of the initiatives under the national plan is to increase the knowledge and skills of the carers of people with dementia in carrying out their caring role. The Carers Association of the ACT received funding under the national grants program to establish a model for services providing dementia care.
Public, private and community organisations have responded very positively. Groups and individuals have pooled their skills and expertise to develop "good practice" standards as a benchmark for dementia care in the ACT. The good practice model has been developed to provide a framework for service providers and incorporates criteria that will serve to assist dementia care facilities with guidelines to achieve good practice; illustrate the concept of good practice in dementia care to help professionals and the general community in the ACT and surrounding districts; and evaluate and recognise services that meet the good practice criteria through an assessment process, for example, peer recognition.
A series of education programs and workshops is commencing this month for all service providers. Issues that will be covered include philosophy development, environmental aspects, management strategies, individual assessment, public and professional awareness, appropriate and adequate resources, and formal and objective evaluation and continuity of care.
Last week, 5 to 12 September, provided the opportunity for support groups in the ACT to publicise themselves, and gave carers, particularly those who are caring for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease in their own homes, the opportunity to access these groups. It is extremely important that sufficient recognition is given to those who undertake the day-to-day care of Alzheimer's disease sufferers.
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