Improving dementia data in Australia: supplement to Dementia in Australia 2012

Rich and robust data are needed for policy makers and practitioners to facilitate the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of dementia, as well as improving support for people with dementia and those who care for them. This paper provides an overview of the status of dementia data at the time of preparing the report Dementia in Australia (AIHW 2012a), and suggests ways in which the availability, consistency and quality of these data could be improved.