The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified major flaws in the quality of care for people with dementia in residential aged care facilities.

 

Most aged care facilities in the ACT and region are institutional in style with limited access for residents to outdoor spaces and limited opportunities for social connection. This does not allow people with dementia to live optimally.

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Dementia prevalence

The proposal is timely. In the ACT, dementia is now the leading cause of death overall with the death rate for women being almost twice that of men, mirroring the broader trend across Australia.

 

Dementia is a major cause of disease burden in Australia Dementia in Australia, Summary - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au). It is a significant and growing health and aged care issue that has a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of people with the condition, as well as for their carers and family. People living with dementia may have cause to draw on residential care services as the symptoms of their neurodegenerative conditions inevitably progress. More than 50% of residents in Australian residential aged care facilities have dementia.

They need to be enabled to live their best lives possible at this stage of their lives.

 

Traditional aged care in Canberra

Existing aged care facilities in Canberra for people living with dementia adhere to traditional architectural styles and care approaches. There is a need for alternative models offering personalised, person-centered, or more radically, person-directed, care within smaller households.