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Dementia Day Care and HACC Centre - Cooma, NSW
Information provided by The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care - Published: 2010-06-30
New $1.57 million dementia day care and HACC centre in Cooma, NSW, Australia.
Services for older residents and people with a disability in Cooma and surrounds have received a boost with the opening of a $1.57 million dementia day care.
The purpose-built Werri-Nina Centre is the eighth centre to be opened as part of the joint Australian and New South Wales Government funded Home and Community Care (HACC) program.
Werri-Nina is an Aboriginal name meaning “a good place – a place for everyone”.
The centre, which includes new office space for HACC services and a Meals on Wheels distribution centre, was officially opened yesterday by the Member for Monaro, Steve Whan.
Mr Whan said: “Providing support to people with dementia and their carers is vital, dementia poses a significant health, social and economic issue for NSW – and demographics indicate that a high proportion of those diagnosed will live in regional centres.”
“This centre will give those living with dementia an opportunity to participate in activities and socialise in a safe and stimulating environment,” he said.
The Gillard Government contributed $942,000 and the Keneally Government provided about $628,000 towards the construction of the centre.
Commonwealth Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said: “Dementia day care centres are one way we are responding to the challenges of an ageing population by providing outings, day trips and support to people with dementia and their carers.
“This new dementia care centre is an example of all levels of government and the community working together to take concrete steps to deliver more services for older Australians to help people living in and around Cooma,” Minister Elliot said.
The Cooma-Monaro Shire Council arranged cash and in kind contributions totalling $60,000.
The NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Peter Primrose said: “This day care centre will assist older residents who need some help to continue living in their own homes and communities rather than moving into permanent residential care.”
“And that’s our fundamental challenge as governments – to help people to age in place in the community.
“We know people’s preference is generally to remain living in their own home and that’s what this dementia day care is about.”
Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly said: “I am delighted that the people of Cooma and surrounds will have access to this important centre.
“Our community like the rest of Australia is facing the challenges of an ageing population and this funding will make a real difference to people living in our area.
“These services offer assistance to people in our region who really need them,” Mr Kelly said.
Home and Community Care program facts
This financial year, the Home and Community Care program will receive about $1.9 billion in funding nationally with $1.2 billion provided by the Australian Government
Last financial year, New South Wales received joint funding of more than $550 million (Commonwealth $327 million, NSW $223 million)
Last financial year, more than 862,000 received Home and Community Care Services throughout Australia, 224,000 of these were in New South Wales
There are more than 73,000 people in NSW living with dementia and by 2050, this number is expected to increase to 227,000.
- This web page is from the Disabled World New South Wales section which provides: Disability news stories and articles from NSW Australia includes medical press releases and coming events in the state of NSW.
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