How personalised dementia care helped Sharon reconnect through netball
9th July 2026 | 4 min readSharon, a resident living with dementia at Gawler Hillside Care Community in South Australia, struggled to adjust to residential aged care after moving into the community. Through conversations with her family and Dementia support Australia, the care team identified netball as a lifelong passion. By creating opportunities for Sharon to play the sport she loves, the team helped improve her wellbeing, social engagement and connection with others.
How can personal interests support people living with dementia?
People living with dementia often experience changes in behaviour, communication and social engagement. Many dementia care specialists recommend person-centred approaches that focus on an individual's history, interests and meaningful life experiences. For Sharon, netball was more than a sport. Throughout her life she was a premiership-winning player, coach, umpire and dedicated administrator for Moonta Netball Club. Recognising this lifelong connection helped the Gawler Hillside Care Community team develop a care approach tailored to Sharon's identity and interests.
Challenges after moving into residential aged care
Following her dementia diagnosis, Sharon found the transition into residential aged care challenging. She preferred to remain in her room and experienced difficulty engaging with team members and other residents. Rather than focusing solely on behaviours, the care team worked to understand the cause behind Sharon's withdrawal and identify what mattered most to her.
How the team used netball to improve engagement
The care team collaborated with Sharon, her family and Dementia Support Australia to better understand her life story and personal interests. These discussions highlighted the important role netball had played throughout Sharon's life. After completing safety and risk assessments, the team installed a netball hoop within a courtyard at Gawler Hillside Care Community.
The simple initiative gave Sharon an opportunity to reconnect with a familiar activity that reflected her identity, skills and lifelong passions.
Outcomes of a person-centred dementia care approach
Since returning to netball activities, Sharon has become more engaged with both residents and team members.
According to general manager Sheralee:
"The change for Sharon has been wonderful to see. As well as providing an important outlet for physical fitness and fresh air, playing netball has helped Sharon build rapport with our team and residents."
The activity has also created opportunities for social interaction and relationship building.
wellbeing manager Rebecca says:
"She loves to play with team member Tari, who isn't a netballer but is learning about the game through Sharon."
Rebecca says Sharon's natural coaching instincts continue to shine.
"Sharon was a school teacher, so coaching is in her blood. She loves sharing her tips and correcting us when our techniques aren't up to scratch."
Why personalised dementia care matters
Sharon's story demonstrates how understanding a person's history, interests and identity can help create meaningful experiences in aged care.
For people living with dementia, familiar activities can support wellbeing, encourage social connection and help maintain a sense of purpose.
At Gawler Hillside Care Community, reconnecting Sharon with netball has helped her feel more at home while continuing to enjoy an activity she has loved throughout her life.
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Commonly asked questions
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Sport and familiar physical activities can encourage movement, social interaction, confidence and emotional wellbeing for people living with dementia.
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Person-centred dementia care focuses on understanding an individual's life history, preferences, interests and needs to deliver personalised support.
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Changes in environment, routine and social connections can make the transition to residential aged care difficult for some people living with dementia.
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By reconnecting Sharon with a lifelong passion, the care team helped improve her engagement, physical activity, social connections and overall happiness.