Explain how dementia trends in Australia reflect the challenges of an ageing population and their implications for healthcare planning. (5 marks)
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- Dementia has become the leading cause of death for females and second leading cause overall, demonstrating how population ageing creates new dominant health challenges.
- This occurs because Australia’s ageing population results in more people reaching ages where dementia risk increases substantially, particularly those aged 65 and over.
- The number of Australians living with dementia is predicted to more than double in coming decades, reflecting how improved life expectancy leads to increased exposure to age-related neurological conditions.
- This trend demonstrates that dementia has become the leading cause of disease burden for people aged 65 and over, showing how demographic changes shift the focus from infectious diseases to chronic age-related conditions.
- Therefore, healthcare planning must adapt to accommodate the increasing demand for specialised dementia care services, aged care facilities and family support programs as the condition becomes more prevalent across Australian communities
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- Dementia has become the leading cause of death for females and second leading cause overall, demonstrating how population ageing creates new dominant health challenges.
- This occurs because Australia’s ageing population results in more people reaching ages where dementia risk increases substantially, particularly those aged 65 and over.
- The number of Australians living with dementia is predicted to more than double in coming decades, reflecting how improved life expectancy leads to increased exposure to age-related neurological conditions.
- This trend demonstrates that dementia has become the leading cause of disease burden for people aged 65 and over, showing how demographic changes shift the focus from infectious diseases to chronic age-related conditions.
- Therefore, healthcare planning must adapt to accommodate the increasing demand for specialised dementia care services, aged care facilities and family support programs as the condition becomes more prevalent across Australian communities.