In the 12 months to 30 June 2008, there was a 57 per cent increase in EACH (extended aged care at home) Dementia packages and a 29 per increase in EACH packages.

Following the surge in supply the national occupancy rate for EACH D packages fell to 76 per cent.

Uptake was lowest in Western Australia where only 65 per cent of places were taken up and highest in Victoria where occupancy rates reached 85 per cent.

“Because there have been a lot of new EACH [Dementia] packages brought on recently there may not have been enough staff members to run them all,” said the head of the institute’s ageing and aged care unit, Gail Brien.

“I would expect it would settle down once providers have had the chance to absorb the new allocations and find the staff to provide the services.”

“It’s similar in residential aged care facilities where it can be difficult to get enough staff into a new service.”

The overall occupancy rate for EACH packages was 89 per cent and take-up was significantly stronger in major cities and regional areas.

In remote areas only 67 per cent of EACH packages were occupied and in very remote areas, that figure was only 31 per cent.