The Iemma Government will direct $49,000 to Co.As.It - the Italian Association of Assistance - to boost its dementia day care service.
NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, and Member for Drummoyne, Angela D’Amore, said today that the funding boost will help Co.As.It to continue its successful dementia day care service in Sydney’s Inner West.
"Co.As.It., located on Blaxland Road in Rhodes, provides a range of services to older Italian residents across the Inner West and Northern Sydney, with particular emphasis on those who have dementia," Ms D’Amore said.
"The extra funding for Italian-specific dementia day care is significant for the Italian-Australian community because it provides people with much-needed support and also respite for their carers.
"Dementia day-care centres provide services to people with dementia such as outings, day trips, diversionary activities, nursing and allied health services – giving them valuable time to get out into the community and their carers with a break from their caring roles.
"In addition to programs supporting older people of Italian heritage, Co.As.It also operates a bi-lingual primary school."
Ms Keneally said that over the past three years, recurrent funding from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) to Co.As.It has increased from almost $182,000 to more than $573,000.
"The Iemma Government is committed to helping people with dementia to live as independently as possible in their own homes, which is what many of them and their families have told us they want, and this funding is helping to further that cause," Ms Keneally said.
"Today’s announcement comes on top of the recent joint state-federal commitment to build nine new dementia day-care centres worth a total of $11.86 million across NSW, making life significantly easier for people with dementia, their families and their carers.
"The Iemma Government is supporting Co.As.It in its effort to meet the needs of frail aged Italian Australian people and their families."