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The dementia policies in Australia relating to the COVID-19 pandemic
Alzheimer's & Dementia ; 17(S10):e055162, 2021.
Article in English | Wiley | ID: covidwho-1589230
ABSTRACT
Background Australia has a population of 26 million, and on January 28th 2021, 28,794 COVID-19 infections and 909 deaths. 685 deaths were at residential aged care facilities, and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that 72.7% of the people who died of the coronavirus in Australia (up to 31 August 2020) had at least one pre-existing chronic condition listed on their death certificate, with dementia the most common (noted on 41% of death certificates). This presentation will present and discuss the key Australian dementia policy interventions implemented during the pandemic. Method A scoping review of published academic, media, policy papers, white papers, and grey literature was conducted. We extracted relevant information pertaining to policies relating to dementia care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Result The Australian government is managing the COVID-19 outbreak as a health emergency, and have developed and funded a comprehensive response. For the older population and those with ADRD, the key policies include the National Health Plans, specific plans for people with disabilities, telehealth expansions, mental health and wellbeing pandemic response plans, home delivery of prescriptions, the establishment of an Aged Care Health Emergency Response Operations Centre, and a National COVID-19 Aged Care Plan. In Victoria, the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre was established. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be given to priority groups from February 2021, which include aged care and disability care residents and workers (people with dementia account for 52% of all residents in aged care facilities). Strict policies were put in place for aged care facility visitations, and for the aged care workforce, such as the use of personal protective equipment and limiting staff to work in only one facility. Advocacy bodies were also key, and Dementia Australia and Dementia Support Australia, for example, developed advice to support people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia during the pandemic. Conclusion There are currently no active cases in residential aged care in Australia, zero locally acquired cases for several weeks, with the (minimal) new cases emerging from the hotel quarantine system. Health policies have managed to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection in Australia.

Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: Wiley Language: English Journal: Alzheimer's & Dementia Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: Wiley Language: English Journal: Alzheimer's & Dementia Year: 2021 Document Type: Article