Reports which estimate the current and future impact of dementia
Dementia Australia has commissioned a number of reports from Access Economics to research and produce estimates of the current and future impact of dementia in various populations within Australia and the surrounding regions.
These estimates highlight the critical importance of research and planning for dementia care as populations age in the coming decades.
Caring Places: Planning for aged care & dementia 2010-2050
February 2011
Caring Places Volume 2
Caring Places Volume 2 released on 25 February was commissioned to project the future requirements for aged care places and packages at the jurisdictional level, Aged Care Planning Regions (ACPRs), and Commonwealth Electoral Divisions (CEDs).
- The key figures that came out of the report include:
- There will be a shortfall of 279,000 aged care places by 2050
- Dementia is a key driver of this increased demand
- There will be shortages in both community and residential care places
The top 6 electorates nationwide by projected aged care supply deficit by 2050:
- Paterson (NSW): 2,943 community packages and residential care places short
- Mayo (SA): 2,883 community packages and residential care places short
- Lyne (NSW): 2,873 community packages and residential care places short
- Flinders (VIC): 2,872 community packages and residential care places short
- Lalor (VIC): 2,857 community packages and residential care places short
- Fairfax (QLD): 2,850 community packages and residential care places short
*Caring Places: Planning for Aged Care and Dementia 2010 – 2050, Access Economics, February 2011, page 21, Table 1.5
Download a copy of the media release
Caring Places: Planning for aged care & dementia 2010-2050
August 2010
Caring Places Volume 1
One consequence of an ageing Australian population is the need for an aged care system that can respond to the needs of the older person, their families and carers. However, the current aged care system needs fundamental reform if the supply of community and residential care are to keep pace with the projected demand for care, while at the same time providing increased choice.
Dementia Australia commissioned Access Economics to model different scenarios for the supply of aged care, to identify strategies to increase consumer choice and to promote service flexibility, and to identify funding options for a sustainable aged care system into the future.
Caring Places has also been timed for the Productivity Commission's review into care for older Australians. Last year's dementia prevalence projections have also been updated to reflect changes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Currently it is estimated there are over 250,000 people with dementia, which will increase to almost 1 million by 2050.
Some key points that have come out of the report:
- More than a quarter of a million older Australians will be without a care place by 2050 due to severe undersupply
- Significant and extensive reform of the aged care system is needed to address the needs of the ageing population
- Growth in the prevalence of dementia is a major driver in demand for care places
- Both major parties should commit to reform of aged care and a comprehensive plan to address the dementia epidemic in the 2011 Budget.