Dementia Australia ‘look forward’ to working with Labor on ‘getting quality care right’

Following Labor’s election win on Saturday, May 21, Dementia Australia has welcomed the newly elected government and is looking forward to ensuring quality dementia care will be placed at the top of the agenda.

Dementia Australia CEO, Maree McCabe AM welcomed the Labor Party’s commitment to put more nurses in residential care and give aged care workers more time to care for residents”.

“And we acknowledge the Party’s promise to formally support a pay rise for aged care workers,” McCabe said.

“We look forward to working with the Government on all Labor policies relevant to people impacted by dementia through the health, aged care, disability and social services sectors.”

For @Emma4Dobell, politics is personal. Emma’s dad had dementia and needed care at the end of his life.

I’ve seen how hard she works every day to make sure all Australians have the care they deserve. In child care, in Medicare, in aged care – because Labor cares. pic.twitter.com/5A0M02Dhwk

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 2, 2022

In 2022, there are an estimated 487,500 Australians living with dementia and more than two-thirds (68.1%) of aged care residents have moderate to severe cognitive impairment, according to Dementia Australia.

With figures such as these, it’s no surprise that McCabe stresses that “quality dementia care must be top of the agenda for every plan, framework, strategy and review of the aged care system reform process including residential and home and community care”.

“With the Government’s support we hope to see a commitment to quality dementia care from Boards, directors and governance committees across the aged care, disability and health care sectors,” she said.

“Getting quality care right for people living with dementia will have a profound and lasting, impact for all – systematically, emotionally, economically and as a human right.”

Residential and Aged care became a significant issue during the 2022 Federal Election campaign with both the Coalition and Labor delivering their pledges to address concerns regarding the aged care sector.

The Morrison government came under fire for seeming to leave aged care out of the Federal Budget on March 29, with their focus strongly on the cost of living.

Morrison committed $49.5 million in training for aged care workers but little else for an industry that’s critical to looking after senior Australians.

In his budget reply on March 31, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese pledged $2.5 billion to the sector with a promise to install at least one registered nurse at all times in aged care facilities.

In a statement, Albanese said the Labor party “will take practical measures to ensure older Australians receive the aged care they deserve”.

It's time to bring dignity back to aged care. Only a Labor Government can do it. pic.twitter.com/qSZs1VAI3Y

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 31, 2022

Some of the measures the Labor party have put forward include better food for residents, registered nurses on sire 24/7 and a “mandate that every Australian living in aged care receives an average of 215 minutes of care per day, as recommended by the Royal Commission”.