House of Representatives Committees

| House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing

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Thinking ahead: Report on the inquiry into dementia; early diagnosis and intervention

24 June 2013

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1227KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Preliminary Pages	(PDF 128KB)
Foreword Membership of the Committee Committee Secretariat Terms of reference List of recommendations

Chapter 1 Conduct and context of the inquiry	(PDF 171KB)
Referral and conduct of the inquiry Context of the inquiry Relevant policy inquiries and reports Australian Government policy frameworks Dementia as a health priority National Framework for Action on Dementia (NFAD) Living Longer. Living Better. – aged care reform package Scope of the inquiry Structure of the report

Chapter 2 Dementia in Australia – demographics and services	(PDF 198KB)
Impact of dementia What is dementia? Signs and symptoms of dementia Prevalence of dementia Data limitations Ageing Australia and demand for services Dementia services and supports Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Primary care and acute care services Community aged care services National Dementia Support Program State/territory governments and the non-government sector

Chapter 3 Awareness	(PDF 226KB)
Lack of community awareness Stigma Raising greater awareness of dementia Awareness for General Practitioners (and other health professionals)

Chapter 4 Diagnosis	(PDF 291KB)
What is ‘early’ or ‘timely’ diagnosis? Benefits of timely diagnosis How is a diagnosis of dementia obtained? Screening tests Screening challenges Targeted screening for dementia? Future planning Legal barriers Awareness about future planning

Chapter 5 Barriers to diagnosis	(PDF 204KB)
Who can make a diagnosis of dementia? Barriers to diagnosis in primary care Barriers to specialist diagnosis Diagnosis in a multi-disciplinary practice Barriers to diagnosis in acute care

Chapter 6 Post-diagnosis	(PDF 242KB)
Referral pathways Navigating the pathway Referral process Coordinating pathways A multi-disciplinary approach Dementia link worker How dementia care services can improve quality of life Dementia management in acute care Accessible and flexible services

Chapter 7 A dementia friendly future	(PDF 211KB)
Preventing dementia Lifestyle factors Mental activity and social engagement Dementia research Committee comment Dementia friendly communities

Appendix A – List of submissions	(PDF 61KB)

Appendix B – List of exhibits	(PDF 75KB)

Appendix C – List of public hearings	(PDF 90KB)