Senator Chris Evans asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care, upon notice, on 28 April 1999:

With reference to residential aged care dementia specific services:

(1) How many places are available in each state/territory, both as a total and broken down into metropolitan and rural areas (the number of places should be provided as both an absolute figure and per 1000 people aged over 70 years).

(2) How many places are available in each state/territory, broken down into high-and low-care facilities.

(3) How many places are available in each state/territory, broken down into private and not-for-profit facilities.

(4) (a) What is the total number of places over the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years; and (b) how many places are planned for the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 financial years.

(5) What is the occupancy rate of these places.

(6) What is the waiting times for these places in each state/territory.

(7) What information does the department have on the unmet demand for these places.

Senator Herron (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) —The Minister for Aged Care has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Under the Aged Care Act 1997, the Government does not approve or regulate dementia specific places or services, particularly as a very large proportion of aged care clients have dementia. Around 60 per cent of residents in high care facilities and 28 per cent of residents in low care facilities have some form of dementia.

Instead, the Government's approach is to provide funding for services to meet individual care needs.

There are some facilities that at any one time may cater exclusively or partially for dementia care. However, there are also many other facilities that meet the needs of some or many residents with dementia.

Therefore, the Department collects data on clients with dementia rather than on any dementia specific places.

(2)-(7) Please refer to the answer for question 1.