Funding boost for study into carers of people with dementia

Thursday 28 September 2006

An innovative study into detecting and managing dementia by GPs will be extended to look also at the needs of their carers following a funding boost of more than $100,000.

Dimity Pond, Professor of General Practice at the University of Newcastle, said the additional funding would help the research project develop more valuable results looking at not only the needs of dementia patients but also their carers.

"It is estimated that there are some 2.6 million carers in Australia today. They are family and friends who are on-call often 24/7 to care for people with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

"Looking after carers' needs helps them to look after their loved ones. This research takes a holistic approach to study not only the services required by people with dementia, but their carers too.

"The ultimate aim of the research is to deliver improved links for people with dementia and their carers to local services."

Funding for the project has been provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and will be matched by national depression initiative, beyondblue. The funding builds on an existing National Health and Medical Research Council grant for research into the detection and management of dementia in General Practice.