The Federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provided $2.6 million to the charity to build a unit to provide specialised care to people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia at the Abri Residential Aged Care Home in Southport, 73km southeast of Brisbane.
The unit's completion was marked by a morning tea celebration with residents and their families.
“This unit will provide a high level of tailored care for 8 individuals who exhibit severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and are unable to be effectively cared for by mainstream aged care services,” Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke said.
“It’s fantastic that our Abri Residential Aged Care Home is now equipped to offer this vital, specialised program which is a first for the Gold Coast region and provides a supportive, safe environment where residents are treated with dignity and respect."
In 2025, there are an estimated 433,000 Australians living with dementia, a figure projected to increase to an estimated 812,000 by 2054.
The unit builds on Anglicare Southern Queensland’s previous SDCP success at their St Martin’s Residential Aged Care Home which is recognised by external stakeholders as the gold standard for all SDCPs.
Anglicare has also received an additional $5.2 million in funding from the Department towards the delivery of two more SDCP units at the E.M Tooth Residential Aged Care Home in Manly, Brisbane, and the Symes Thorpe Residential Aged Care Home in Toowoomba.
The Australian Government's target is to have 35 SDCP units nationally. Currently, there are only 20 SDCP units, with another six funded and under construction.
