New dementia day centres for NSW
The federal and state governments have provided funding for two new purpose-built facilities as part of a broader project responding to the increasing incidence of dementia.
The Commonwealth and New South Wales governments have provided over $3 million to build two dementia day-care centres in the mid-North Coast town of Port Macquarie and the Sydney suburb of Kogarah.
Fourteen other purpose-built dementia-specific day centres are being built in NSW as part of a Home and Community Care (HACC) initiative developed in response to the increasing incidence of dementia as the population ages.
The Port Macquarie centre will be built by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Shire Council and the Kogarah centre will be constructed by Calvary Health Care Sydney on the same site as its 100-bed hospital.
The Kogarah development will also incorporate new office space for HACC-funded allied health, support and education services.
The federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot said the number of people living with dementia in NSW was expected to triple to 227,000 by 2050.
She said the new dementia day-care centres would play a vital role in meeting their needs.
“Dementia day-care centres can provide outings, day trips, diversionary activities, support, nursing and allied health services to people with dementia and their carers,” she said.
“Importantly they also assist their carers to continue in their caring role.”
The State Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Paul Lynch said the centres would help older people with dementia to remain in their own homes.
