Dementia and Aged Care Roadmap up for public feedback

Australians will be able to look over the draft proposal and provide feedback to the Government around the funding prioritisation of dementia and aged care research.

The Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission is a research program running from 2018-2019 to 2028-2029 and investing $185 million into healthy ageing, independence of older people, and access to quality care.

With the public having access to the decade long roadmap, Australians can have input into how the Government should prioritise spending of the funding for dementia and aged care research.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, described dementia as “one of Australia and the world’s greatest health challenges,” but said it was a challenge the Government was “deeply committed to.”

“Greater research into dementia is vital, but it’s important to ensure the research is targeted to have the greatest impact,” says Minister Hunt.

“I encourage Australians to jump on the website, read the draft Roadmap and provide advice, so we have a greater understanding of what research is required.”

There are more than 447,000 people living with dementia in Australia, which is expected to increase to 1.1 million people by 2058.

In 2017, 15 percent of Australia’s population, 3.8 million, were aged 65 and over. By 2057, this figure is expected to increase to 22 percent, or over 8.8 million, of the population.

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, says the draft Roadmap is an important and timely strategy.

“We want all Australians to maintain their health and quality of life as they age, to live well and independently for longer and access quality care when they need it,” says Minister Colbeck.

Funding for the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission has been made available through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The Minister’s say, as the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety continues its work, the Government will continue to act on aged care and dementia needs.

The only organisation to receive funding under this Mission so far, is The University of Queensland (Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research), with total funding of $10 million going towards their “Breaking through Dementia” project.

The public consultation will be open until 17 February 2020, if you would like to make a submission, click here, or to read more about the Roadmap, visit the Department of Health’s website.