New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing dementia is now the leading cause of disease burden for older Australians confirms the need for improved care and policy settings to ensure those diagnosed have dignity and quality of life.

Dementia Support Australia Head of Dementia Professional Services Marie Alford said the number of people diagnosed will continue to grow as the population ages. The 401,300 people living with dementia in Australia in 2022 is expected to more than double to 849,3000 people by 2058, according to the AIHW.

“At some stage most of us will be affected by dementia, either ourselves or because of someone we love,” Ms Alford said.

“The announcement earlier this month by the family of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis of his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia is an example that this disease can occur in the lives of anyone, regardless of wealth or fame.”

Ms Alford said the rising incidence of dementia is having an impact on carers, their families, the health system, and residential aged care homes.

“With 2 in 3 people living with dementia being in the community, there were up to 354,200 unpaid carers last year, often working 60 or more hours a week.”

“It’s important that we provide options for respite for these carers and provide them with necessary skills to continue to provide care at home through programs like DSA’s Staying at Home program.”

DSA, funded by the Australian Government, operates 24 hours a day to improve quality of life of people living with dementia who are experiencing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) through a relationship-based approach.

BPSD refers to a range of con-cognitive symptoms that most people living with dementia will experience, including aggression, delusions, agitation, depression, vocalisations and disinhibitions and night-time behavioural disturbances.

DSA is managing a soaring number of referrals from aged care homes and the community for BPSD case management with 8108 cases in 2018 more than doubling to 18,091 last year. The AIHW report featured information on DSA’s service delivery.

Ms Alford said there needed to be continuing progress on Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendations relating to dementia, including better palliative care for people living with dementia, dementia-friendly aged care design and more beds offered under the Special Dementia Care Program.

DSA Head of Clinical Services Associate Professor Steve Macfarlane said there is still some way to go on implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendation of reducing the overuse of psychotropic medication in aged care residents with BPSD.

“Psychotropic medications have a limited role in the management of BPSD because they generally do not work,” Ass. Prof. Macfarlane said.

“Nonpharmacological strategies that focus of resolving underlying causes should be an important part in the management of dementia complicated by BPSD.

DSA has launched the GP Advice Service to provide the nation’s 31,000 general practitioners with access to psychogeriatricians and geriatricians to help them respond to the clinical needs of patients living with dementia.

The nation’s GPs can access the DSA team through the new email service at gpadvice@dementia.com.au