What is dementia care?
Dementia care are the services that help support people with dementia, living at home or in a nursing home (aged care home). If you or someone you care for has dementia, there are a range of dementia care services available to help you.
Types of dementia care
If you are living at home and need help, you can apply for a home care package, which is subsidised by the Federal Government. These services can include help with personal activities such as dressing and grooming, household tasks like cleaning and laundry, and home maintenance.
Some home care providers also receive an extra Dementia Supplement to help you access services at home.
You can apply for home care through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
You can also apply to live in a nursing home (aged care home) if you and your family or carer agree that it would provide you with better support. While all nursing homes funded by the Commonwealth can care for people with dementia, there are many homes that offer specialist services and staff.
Some may have a dementia unit which provides care for people with dementia who may not be able to be accommodated safely in general nursing homes, however not all people with dementia need a dementia-specific unit.
These nursing homes can also be given a Dementia Supplement to help support residents with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Applying for dementia care
If you have dementia and need to go into residential aged care, you will need to undergo an ACAT assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team to determine the level of care you need. The team will also be able to recommend facilities that may be suitable for your needs and answer any question you may have.
There are also a variety of other services and support available for people with dementia and their carers including respite care. You can find out more about these at the Government’s my aged care website.
