Australia's approach to tackling the growing dementia crisis is missing a crucial piece of the puzzle, according to a leading expert. Gillian Woodhouse, a prominent voice in the field, argues that the nation's strategy is failing to adequately invest in prevention and the vital role of allied health professionals.
The Overlooked Power of Prevention and Early Intervention
Woodhouse points to a stark reality: over 421,000 Australians are currently living with dementia, a number projected to more than double by 2058. The national response, while acknowledging the scale, remains heavily skewed towards crisis management and residential care, which consumes the lion's share of funding.
This model, she contends, is both economically unsustainable and misses a profound opportunity. Evidence shows that targeted interventions can delay the onset of symptoms and slow progression. Modifiable risk factors like hearing loss, social isolation, and physical inactivity account for up to 40% of dementia risk. Addressing these through allied health services is not just compassionate care; it's a sound financial investment.
"We are spending billions on the end stages of dementia while starving the very services that could keep people healthier and at home for longer," Woodhouse states. The current system creates a bottleneck, where people cannot access the support they need until their condition has significantly advanced.
The Critical Role of Allied Health Professionals
The missing link, Woodhouse emphasises, is the diverse group of allied health practitioners. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, audiologists, dietitians, and exercise physiologists.
These professionals are uniquely equipped to tackle the modifiable risk factors head-on. An audiologist addressing hearing loss, a physiotherapist designing a safe exercise program, or an occupational therapist modifying a home for safety can have a monumental impact on a person's cognitive trajectory and quality of life.
However, access to these services through government-subsidised schemes like the Chronic Disease Management plan is limited, often to just five sessions per year across all allied health disciplines. This is woefully inadequate for managing a complex, progressive condition like dementia. Woodhouse calls for a significant overhaul of these funding models to provide sustained, needs-based support.
A Call for Systemic Reform and Investment
The consequences of inaction are severe, both for individuals and the national purse. Dementia is already the leading cause of death for Australian women and the second leading cause of death overall. The cost to the health and aged care system is enormous and set to balloon.
Woodhouse's argument is a powerful call for a paradigm shift. She advocates for a rebalancing of the national dementia investment towards a preventative, allied health-led model. This means:
- Increasing Medicare-funded allied health sessions specifically for dementia prevention and support.
- Integrating allied health assessments into routine care for older Australians.
- Funding public health campaigns that highlight modifiable risk factors.
- Supporting more research into the efficacy of allied health interventions in dementia care.
This approach aligns with the World Health Organization's global action plan on dementia, which prioritises prevention and risk reduction. For Australia, it represents a chance to build a more humane, effective, and financially sustainable system. By empowering allied health professionals and focusing on what can be prevented, the nation can change the trajectory for hundreds of thousands of future lives.
