Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program: Petition from Judy Woolstencraft

This is a petition that is very important. From Judy Woolstencraft, from Giralang, Australia.

On change.org, Judy says:

We want more services targeted at people with younger onset dementia and their families and for the funding of the Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program to continue as it is and NOT become part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Here is a photo of Judy and her partner Chris:

She writes:

Currently 1 in 13 of  people diagnosed with dementia are under 65.  My partner, Chris (pictured with myself on holiday in the UK in 2009) was one of these people, being diagnosed in 2007, aged 56. As we discovered there were very few services targeted at this age group who have specialised needs. Most services for dementia were targeted at an older age group and as an active man who wanted to pursue his interests for as long as he could, Chris found most were unsuitable for his needs.

One program that is available is the Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program. This program is a specialised service funded by the Government that works one on one to assist a person with younger onset dementia through their journey and assists to find and develop suitable programs and services.

However now the Australian Government has said from July next year the Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker program will become part of the NDIS. The NDIS does not have the expertise with dementia, will not assist with family support or have access to suitable programs.

Without the Key Worker Program people will fall through the gaps of aged care and disability and wont have their dementia focussed services that meet their unique needs.

Please sign this now, right here.