Dementia is a disease feared by those of us growing old. It robs the mind of both reason and memory and is classed as a terminal illness. Most people afflicted with dementia live out the remainder of their lives in nursing homes, where they are cared for by trained and compassionate staff.
Unfortunately this disease results in extreme anti social behaviour in some sufferers, and in many cases a relapse into violence against others that can not be accommodated in a normal nursing home environment.
Treating such people requires special facilities - and these have been provided at Garrawarra, near Helensburgh - but now the state government is intending to sell off this facility - and withdraw from specialist treatment of dementia sufferers.
Garrawarra is over a hundred years old and originally was the treatment centre for Tuberculosis. It is a big old hospital, set in pleasant park like grounds and is the only facility treating those with behavioural problems caused by dementia.
The state government wants to opt out of the cost of providing special care facilities and intends to hand it to the private sector. Obviously there is more money to be made treating non violent dementia sufferers, hence it is unreasonable to expect private enterprise to pickup the tab the government is shedding.
If this move proceeds there will be nowhere for problem people to be housed, hence they will either make life uncomfortable for others in conventional nursing homes - or be flick passed to the care of their relatives.
It seems that in the last months of this terminally ill government decisions will be made that will inflict lasting damage on those least able to care for themselves - those suffering acute dementia - and their loved ones !
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