By Alesha Capone
WYNDHAM could face a shortage of more than 2800 residential aged care places across the next four decades, according to a new report.
An Alzheimer’s Australia study, released last week, said the federal electorate of Lalor, which incorporates most of Wyndham, faced a projected shortage of 2857 places by 2050.
This puts Lalor second-highest on the list of electorates within Victoria facing the most demand for aged care places.
The report also said growth in the prevalence of dementia in Lalor between 2010 and 2050 was estimated to be 688 per cent.
This would result in around 8000 extra dementia patients within the area across the timeframe.
The Alzheimer’s Australia study analysed the impact of an ageing population and projected dementia rates on every federal electorate in Australia from 2010 to 2050.
The projected shortages listed within the report are for residential care places and community care packages, based on current government policy.
Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria CEO Maree McCabe said increased rates of dementia would drive the shortfall.
“This further highlights the need for a comprehensive plan to address the dementia epidemic when considering aged care reform,” Ms McCabe said.
Member for Lalor, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said the government recognised there were challenges facing the aged care sector and reform was essential to build a more sustainable system.
“To this end, the government has asked the Productivity Commission to examine all aspects of Australia’s aged care system and to develop detailed options to ensure it can meet the challenges facing it in the coming decades,” she said.
The commission is expected to report its findings around June this year.
