Action 5: Treatment, coordination of care and support for people living with dementia

Where do we want to be in 10 years?

People living with dementia and their families are connected to coordinated, dementia inclusive services that meet their individual and changing needs. People living with dementia have autonomy and are supported to make decisions about their care and other supports, if and when they need them.

Outcome statement for people living with dementia

I have hope and access to necessary supports to live as well as possible with dementia, even as my abilities and needs change. I have support to make, communicate and participate in decisions regarding the services I receive.

How will we know if the National Dementia Action Plan has made a difference?

This web report presents specific metrics, called indicators, to track change over time, under each of the measures of progress (see Table 5). Measures of progress are part of the Action Plan and are broad statements on how governments will assess if the Action Plan is meeting its objectives.

Baseline values below represent the situation at the start of the Action Plan. In future years, data will be updated to assess if indicators are improving over time. More information about each indicator is presented in the next pages.

Table 5: Summary of indicators for Action 5 measures of progress

Measure of progress

Indicator

Baseline value

Baseline timepoint

Data source

5.1 Coordination of care1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who reported that poor coordination of care was a moderate or large barrier to accessing services for the person they care for.

48%*

2024

Carer Wellbeing Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who received assistance navigating government services.

47%*

2024

Carer Wellbeing Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who received assistance navigating government services, who reported that assistance was helpful.

65%*

2024

Carer Wellbeing Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who found it difficult to find information about aged care services.

31%*

2024

National Carer Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who found it difficult to find information about NDIS or other disability services.

41%*

2024

National Carer Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who were not provided with all the information they needed from GPs.

23%*

2024

National Carer Survey

5.2 Navigating access to services & supports1

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who were not provided with all the information they needed from hospitals and community health services.

30%*

2024

National Carer Survey

5.3 Access to suitable services & supports for priority populations

Data not currently available, development needed

5.4 Primary health care experiences & outcomes

Data not currently available, development needed

5.5 Medication reviews2

Proportion of the National Health Data Hub (NHDH) dementia cohort who had a medication management review attendance.

16%^

2021–22

NHDH

5.6 Hospital and transition experiences & outcomes

Data not currently available, development underway

5.7 Aged care experiences & outcomes

Data not currently available, development needed

5.8 Inappropriate restrictive practices

Data not currently available, development underway

5.9 Advance care planning & palliative care2

Proportion of carers of people living with dementia who reported the person they care for has an Advance Care Plan.

46%*

2024

Carer Wellbeing Survey

5.9 Advance care planning & palliative care​2​​​​

Proportion of palliative care phases for people with dementia, for which distress related to pain improved or remained at a low level after intervention.

84%*

2024

Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration

5.9 Advance care planning & palliative care2

Proportion of palliative care phases for people with dementia, for which family or carer problems improved or remained at a low level after intervention.

80%*

2024

Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration

5.10 Culturally appropriate advance care planning & palliative care

Data not currently available, development needed

Notes on data availability and completeness:

  1. Some data available, development underway.
  2. Some data available, further development needed.

For more information, see how data availability and completeness are assessed.

Notes on data status for this release: 
    *   Updated data
    ^   New data.

Abbreviations:

  • GP: general practitioner
  • NDIS: National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • NHDH: National Health Data Hub.