Health Minister launches new study into improving dementia care
Health Minister launches new study into improving dementia care
The Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, will today launch a new Menzies Research Institute research project into improving the delivery of palliative care services for people with dementia in Tasmania, at the Launceston General Hospital.
The Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, will today launch a new Menzies Research Institute research project into improving the delivery of palliative care services for people with dementia in Tasmania, at the Launceston General Hospital.
Dementia is currently driving the aged cares crisis in Australia. It is currently estimated there are over 250,000 people with dementia in Australia, which will increase to over 1 million by 2050.*
Menzies' Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (Wicking Dementia Centre) will collaborate with Alzheimer's Australia WA, Alzheimer's Australia Tas and Curtin University of Technology's Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute on the project.
The research project called Community of Practice in Dementia, will develop and test a Community of Practice strategy aimed at enhancing the delivery of palliative care services and care continuity, for dementia sufferers.
Professor Andrew Robinson, Co-Director of Menzies' Wicking Dementia Centre says the study will assist us in working towards preparing Tasmania for the rapid increase in the numbers of people with dementia.
"People with advanced dementia, or dementia plus other advanced life limiting illness, frequently receive services from community aged care providers, hospitals, and/or residential aged care facilities," Professor Robinson said.
"This Community of Practice in Dementia project presents a major opportunity for researchers, community aged care providers, specialists and primary palliative care providers to work together in improving the delivery of palliative care services for people with dementia in the community and their families," he said.
This project will test and refine a strategy that will bring about a new Community of Practice for dementia sufferers and their families, in both metropolitan Perth (WA) and in regional/rural Tasmania.
"The Tasmanian project team will be based in Launceston and will work closely with Tasmanian health service providers GP North, the Launceston General Hospital, One Care and Southern Cross Care."
The $580,827 research study is nationally funded from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Established in 2008, the Wicking Centre is funded by the JO & JR Wicking Trust, (managed by ANZ Trustees) with further financial support from the University of Tasmania and the Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania.
*Access Economics Report (August 2010), Caring Places: Planning for Aged Care & Dementia 2010-2050
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