A new resident* who presented with complex behaviours has moved into Altona Gardens Care Community. Our team are working with the resident and her family to provide her dementia support and ensure she settles in well and feels comfortable as she is transitioning into our dementia care.
Upon arrival the female resident displayed behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). For example, she would frequently try to leave our Care Community and at times demonstrated feelings of anger and frustration as well as insomnia. The resident also experiences chronic osteoporosis and osteoarthritis pain.
Our team spoke at length with the resident, her family and partner to understand her social and emotional needs. By mapping out her life history and finding out where her memory takes her, our team were able to put an appropriate dementia care plan in place to ensure we meet her needs and preferences.
After in depth discussions with the resident we recognised that she perceived herself to be living in her 40s and 50s, rather than in the present day as an older person. Involving the residents’ daughter and partner in the discussions was vital, as they were able to share that the resident was grieving the loss of her son (which occurred many years earlier) and had been visiting his grave weekly.
Our team asked the resident’s family to bring in personal photos in that could be displayed around her bedroom to support reminiscence and further memory mapping.
They spent time getting to know the resident and understanding her interests, so they could create an environment where she can participate socially with others and do things that she enjoys.
Our team are helping her connect with other residents. She has started bonding with our Customer Support Coordinator who is regularly spending quality time with her.
Our team continue to review the resident’s dementia care plan as we get to know her more deeply. We build this knowledge through team huddles, updates in handovers, and through practical education sessions with the team.
The resident has started engaging in meaningful tasks around our Care Community, such as setting and clearing activity spaces, gardening, helping our catering team to clear the lunch and dinner trollies. Our team has observed that socialising with other residents enables her to feel safe and secure.
One thing we learnt early on is that our resident is Welsh and still speaks in her native tongue. Now that she feels safe and secure in her surroundings, she has offered to teach our team how to speak Welsh.
Our Altona Gardens Care Community team continue to encourage our resident to live with meaning and purpose in our care. The complex behaviours that were evident when she first moved in have settled. She has structure and purpose in her day and, importantly, enjoyable things to look forward to – socialising and participating in Care Community life.
*Our resident has asked to remain anonymous.
Every individual living with dementia will have different needs and preferences. Our carers endeavour to build connected relationships with each resident so that we can deliver the right care for your clinical, social and spiritual needs.
Return to Dementia Care
Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. In other words, dementia isn't one specific disease.
Learn more about dementia
There are many types of dementia but the most common causes include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
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Person-centred care is at the heart of our approach to care. It means supporting our residents to live a meaningful life every day in a personalised and considered way.
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In some of our Care Communities we have areas known as Memory care neighbourhoods (MCN). They are a safe designated area or cluster of rooms where residents living with dementia reside.
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Make sure the person requiring care has had an ACAT assessment.
Search for a residential aged care home suitability located.
Understand the costs associated with aged care.
Ensure you have all the relevant paperwork.
Check out our moving checklist to ensure the smoothest move possible.
Once you have received your ACAT assessment, you can begin applying to as many care homes as you wish, but once you accept a place, it’s important that you let the other homes know that you no longer require their services.
Visiting a range of homes is often one of the best ways to decide which home suits your needs. To help you assess the suitability of the homes you visit, we have attached a short checklist at the end of this section. This will help you assess each home and ask some important questions to the providers you meet with.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is the body that determines your financial situation. To do this, DHS conducts a Combined Income and Assets Assessment, which is a form that you need to complete and submit to the government.
Respite care is short-term care, including day respite, to provide your caregivers a break from caring when they need it. It can be planned or on an emergency basis and can be used for up to 63 days in a financial year. Many care homes offer day respite, which offers caregivers some flexibility to attend to personal needs and obligations as they arise.
The Combined Income and Assets Assessment form (SA457) is an extensive questionnaire with over 140 questions about what you and your partner/spouse own and earn. It’s important to understand that you are considered to own half your assets with your partner/spouse regardless of who holds the title to the assets. As part of your assessment, you will be asked to provide details of all assets owned by both of you.
Accommodation Charge (the cost of your room) - These are set by individual homes and varies from home to home
