A Gisborne aged care centre has been promised $1.4 million for a new dementia wing to help deal with an anticipated ‘tsunami’ of cases.
Two months after attending a dementia forum, Labor’s spokesman on ageing Shayne Neumann returned to Macedon Ranges Health’s Gisborne Oaks aged care home last Wednesday to pledge about half the money needed for a new unit, if the ALP wins government.
MRH chief executive Don Tidbury said the announcement, made by Mr Neumann in conjunction with McEwen MP Rob Mitchell, would make an enormous difference to the lives of people living with dementia, if it is fulfilled.
As reported by Star Weekly, projections show McEwen will have the state’s second-highest incidence of dementia by 2050, its occurrence tipped to soar by 754.1 per cent.
“Over the next 10 years, the number of people living with dementia will more than double in this community and significantly exceed the Victorian average,’’ Mr Tidbury said.
Mr Tidbury said MRH would embark on a major community fundraising campaign to add to Labor’s commitment, with about $3 million needed to create a best-practice unit.
Mr Neumann and Mr Mitchell attended a forum at the aged care centre in April when carers demanded an immediate response to the crisis facing the area.
