Funding boost for dementia-specific respite care in Queensland
Seven community care organisations have received $20 million from the Queensland Government to expand their respite services for those living with dementia or neurodegenerative conditions.
Seven community care organisations have received $20 million from the Queensland Government to expand their respite services for those living with dementia or neurodegenerative conditions.
The funding over three years announced in May was a pre-election commitment of the Palaszczuk government.
The Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the seven funded organisations specialised in respite care and could tailor the respite to the needs of both the client and their carer.
“This funding not only allows for an extra 270,000 hours of dementia respite care through services across Queensland every year, it also funds special assistance to prepare a dementia client for respite care and settle them on their return home.”
Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) CEO Victoria Beedle said few respite services currently offered dementia-specific programs.
“$20 million will make a significant impact to the quality of dementia-appropriate respite and increase the likelihood of a carer being able to continue to care for their loved one at home in their community where most people would like to be,” she said.
The following organisations have been allocated respite care funding:
- Alzheimer’s Association of Queensland ($2.7 million)
- Anglicare Southern Queensland ($3.2 million)
- Centacare Community Services ($5.2 million)
- Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast t/a CURA Community Services ($1.3 million)
- Ozcare ($3.3 million)
- South Burnett Senior Citizens Welfare Association Inc ($1 million)
- St John’s Community Care Limited ($3.2 million)
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