An explosion in the number of dementia sufferers is expected in New South Wales, a figure that will place extreme pressure on aged car services and funding
New figures expect the number of people with dementia in NSW alone will increase by around 23,000 in under a decade.
Figures prepared for Alzheimer's Australia by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate there are already an estimate 109,000 people with dementia. By 2020, in less than seven years, that figure will increase by 20 perecent.
John Watkins, chief executive of Alzheimer's Australia NSW, has renewed calls for the NSW government to fund dementia services fully in the 2013/14 state budget.
"This plan has been well researched and is a comprehensive approach to dealing with dementia across NSW," said Mr Watkins.
More than 320,000 Australians have dementia, a number predicted to reach more than half a million by 2030.