Australia warned - 'Dementia Tsunami' on the way

May 6 2009

According to a new report Australia could be facing a 'Dementia Tsunami' in twenty years time.

The report by Alzheimer's Australia says there could be a shortage of more than 150,000 carers for dementia sufferers within 20 years, as by 2030 estimates suggest that 465,000 Australians will then be living with dementia.

The report says based on current polices, all the indicators point to a major shortage of both paid and unpaid carers and the chief executive of Alzheimer's Australia, Glen Rees, says governments cannot afford to ignore the issue.

Mr Rees says those beds that currently exist in hospitals in residential care will be harder and harder to access and the wrong people will be in them and he believes a better approach would be for governments to realise now that support for carers and good community care will in the end lead to more cost-effective and quality life solutions.

Mr Rees says the number of dementia sufferers will almost double over the next two decades and governments must act swiftly and think now about the community services it needs, the residential care services it needs and support programs for carers into the future.

Alzheimer's Australia says ageing baby boomers who are living longer but who are increasingly needing care in the home and sometimes outside the home are contributing to the 'Dementia Tsunami'.

The former New South Wales deputy premier, John Watkins, now head of Alzheimer's Australia for NSW says the Government must act now to address the huge financial impact that dementia will have on the economy.

John Watkins says the threat of dementia is an extraordinary and unprecedented social health situation and an avalanche that is coming our way.

The report recommends a national savings scheme be introduced, on top of superannuation, to help fund the future care of people with dementia.

One solution brokered is a savings scheme where people could make contributions into a 'healthy ageing savings account' to cater for any future health needs as one element of part of the care playing for future - experts say 60% of people with dementia are looked after by family members.

The report says a saving scheme could financially support those carers as well as fund more residential places - along with better care, Alzheimer's Australia says the ultimate goal is to find a cure or more effective treatments for the illness.