The updated dementia prevalence figures, released by Alzheimer’s Australia, support the organisation’s call for a comprehensive state-wide dementia strategy to be implemented in NSW, across health, transport, policing, housing and other government services.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW has also called on the major political parties to commit to funding for a dementia centre in Western Sydney, to provide funding support to help create dementia-friendly communities across NSW and to implement initiatives to support improved hospital care for people with dementia.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW CEO John Watkins said updated dementia prevalence rates show that the numbers of people with dementia in NSW is now estimated to be almost 112,000.

There is an estimated 1600 people living with dementia in the Bega electorate currently.

“These figures show dementia is an issue that is only going to get bigger and we really need a whole-of-government approach to appropriately tackle the challenge,” Mr Watkins said.

“This means doing things like taking a serious look at how to provide much better care for people with dementia when they need to go to hospital, increasing specialist palliative care for people with dementia and adequately funding health-related transport to support people living with dementia to access health and medical-related appointments.

With the tragically high level of dementia in Aboriginal communities, Alzeimers Australia is calling for the major parties to commit to continuing to fund a state-wide Aboriginal project officer to support Aboriginal communities and mainstream services in providing culturally appropriate dementia care, as well as appropriately funding Aboriginal liaison workers to provide risk reduction messages to the broader population.