❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Health portfolio regarding dementia services, highlighting concerns about service accessibility and staffing shortages. The response outlines existing Commonwealth and State programs and refers to ongoing workforce surveys and existing action plans.
AnsweredQoN 4754Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding services for people with dementia and their carers, I ask -
(1) Are you aware that the growth of dementia in Western Australia is the third fastest in Australia?
(2) Are you aware that even when patients and carers are eligible for respite, carer support or counselling, they are unable to get these services?
(3) What is the shortfall in staff to provide full respite, carer support and counselling services to eligible dementia patients and their carers?
(4) What is the average waiting time for these services?
(5) What will you do to ensure the needs of dementia patients and their carers are met?
(1) Are you aware that the growth of dementia in Western Australia is the third fastest in Australia?
(2) Are you aware that even when patients and carers are eligible for respite, carer support or counselling, they are unable to get these services?
(3) What is the shortfall in staff to provide full respite, carer support and counselling services to eligible dementia patients and their carers?
(4) What is the average waiting time for these services?
(5) What will you do to ensure the needs of dementia patients and their carers are met?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Health
Response time
28 days
2. People with dementia and their carers receive respite, carer support and counselling mostly from a range of Commonwealth-funded programs such as nursing homes, Extended Aged Care at Home dementia, day therapy centres, Community Aged Care Packages, the National Respite for Carers Program and the jointly Commonwealth and State funded Home and Community Care (HACC) program. In cases of emergency respite, the Commonwealth Nursing Homes and National Respite programs can provide immediate services and or accommodation for clients. 3. A national aged care workforce census and survey is currently being conducted that will include information across all Commonwealth and State funded aged care programs. The information from the census and survey will be available to governments, industry and training organisations to enable appropriate workforce planning and development of training. 4. The Department of Health does not collect waiting time information for these services. 5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
3. A national aged care workforce census and survey is currently being conducted that will include information across all Commonwealth and State funded aged care programs. The information from the census and survey will be available to governments, industry and training organisations to enable appropriate workforce planning and development of training. 4. The Department of Health does not collect waiting time information for these services. 5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
4. The Department of Health does not collect waiting time information for these services. 5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
3. A national aged care workforce census and survey is currently being conducted that will include information across all Commonwealth and State funded aged care programs. The information from the census and survey will be available to governments, industry and training organisations to enable appropriate workforce planning and development of training. 4. The Department of Health does not collect waiting time information for these services. 5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
4. The Department of Health does not collect waiting time information for these services. 5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
5. The State Government is fully committed to addressing the needs of dementia clients and their carers. The ways in which it will do this are outlined in the State Aged Care Plan 2003-2008, the Dementia Action Plan 2003 - 2006, the Carers Action Plan 2004 -2007 and the HACC Program Plan 2006 - 2007.
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