MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay welcomed yesterday's announcement by Health Minister John Hatzistergos of $100,000 in funding over two years to extend the groundbreaking Memory Assessment Program (MAP).
Mr Torbay said the grant was a vote of confidence in the Program, which has been operating in Inverell, Armidale, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha to assist people diagnosed with dementia and their families for the last two years.
"The strength of the program is that it gauges the capacity of people with dementia, not just their incapacity and makes it possible for them to live independently for a longer period,” he said.
MAP is a collaboration between the NSW Health Department and The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, the New England Division of General Practice, the University of New England School of Psychology, Hunter and New England Area Health Services and the Armidale Dumaresq Council.
"We know we are facing a national crisis with the latest figures revealing that 1000 people are diagnosed with dementia in Australia every week,” Mr Torbay said.
"This early intervention and accurate diagnosis is making it easier for doctors and service providers to determine the right medication, treatment and support for individual patients. It also allows them to remain longer in their own homes with a better quality of life and places less burden on the health and aged care system,” he said.
Article from http://inverell.yourguide.com.au
