Only 12 of 35 dementia units promised by 2023 Australia-wide are operational, health department says

Exclusive: spokesperson says six units more will open by the end of 2024 but declines questions about cause of delay

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Just 12 of a promised 35 specialist dementia units the government committed to have running by 2023 are operational, a health department spokesman has said.

To respond to a growing number of people with dementia and suffering from severe behavioural and psychological symptoms, the federal government in 2016 announced the Specialist Dementia Care Program [SDCP].