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18 Business View Australia - August 2015
OPENING LINES
they do not harm themselves. The
number of older people with dementia
is currently about 220,000 and it is
estimated that this figure will reach
730,000 by 2050. Hence, aged care
facilities will need to greatly enhance
their capabilities in this area.
An aged care facility is only as good
as its staff and it is essential that
they have an adequate number of
registered nurses and other suitably
trained personnel to take care of the
high-care needs of residents. The
infrastructure at the facilities will also
need to address the specific needs of
people afflicted with dementia.
The growth in the aged care
industry will lead to some extent of
consolidation as operators look for
acquisition opportunities in an effort
to achieve economies of scale. Larger
operators have the advantage of being
able to achieve higher occupancy
rates, make greater investments in