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Aged Care/Dementia Care

Dementia Care

At Respect, residents are cared for as individuals. We take a well-rounded look at life history, personality, medical concerns, as well as simple likes and dislikes. In prioritising the person, we bring greater care and understanding to each resident. Here, a dementia diagnosis does not stop the individual from reaching goals or leading a meaningful life.

Dementia Care

At Respect, residents are cared for as individuals. We take a well-rounded look at life history, personality, medical concerns, as well as simple likes and dislikes. In prioritising the person, we bring greater care and understanding to each resident. Here, a dementia diagnosis does not stop the individual from reaching goals or leading a meaningful life.

First person approach

Our holistic care centres on the whole person, not their memory loss or limitations. Through listening and learning about each person, we frame our services and strategies to give people with memory loss the ability to live to their full potential. Governing this approach are the integral values of choice, dignity, respect and self-determination.

Core dementia care principles

Whether you’re looking into memory care for yourself or a loved one, take heart that we’ve established core principles that form an exemplary standard of care. Our principles were developed with objectives and measurable goals.

Quality of life comes first

Each individual’s health and functional independence is optimised. A purpose-driven life is supported and encouraged, while maintaining guidelines and guardrails around personal safety.

Support for loved ones

Throughout a person’s memory care, we make ourselves available to their partner, family and close friends. We are open for discussion to learn more about a resident’s needs and provide advice or support to loved ones whenever they need.

Reduce external measures

We aim to keep memory function at its peak level for each resident. We prioritise memory-focused activities and encourage continued familiarity with people and surroundings. One of the realities of dementia care is that there may come a time when hospitalisation or psychotropic medication are discussed. We will not leap to extreme measures, and will first confer with doctor, resident and loved ones before relying on external care measures.

Each of our memory care services across our aged care homes adhere to these principles. They’re what drive us to make every day better than the last for our residents.

From principles to practice

Now that you know our principles, here’s how we put them into action. We’ve developed a process, system, and tools that are measurable and objective. Our key steps in a dementia care best practice approach include:

Holistic Assessment

A careful evaluation of a new memory support unit resident is part of our intake process. We learn about their experiences and abilities at the start of care to create a baseline we can measure against during the continuum of care. During this assessment, we emphasise two areas of learning.

1. Cognitive function – we provide a screening and assessment to identify a resident’s stage of dementia. We look to their current functional abilities to assist in developing an appropriate memory care plan.

2. Personal history – we gather key milestones and information regarding a person’s life story. As it unfolds, we see the full person, not the disease. We learn what’s meaningful to them and what will help inspire familiarity and fond memories.

Care plans, interventions and programs

After we’ve identified preferences, capabilities and needs through the holistic assessment, we design therapeutic plans and programs. Each individual’s emotional well-being and daily rituals, such as grooming, dining and other activities, are also taken into account. This approach allows us to form a daily schedule and measure functional ability, noting any deficits or declines throughout the day. Participation in their own care, with as-needed assistance, is encouraged, as functional independence can make a positive impact on how they view themselves—and stay motivated during this stage in life.

Meaningful interactions

Connections made with a carer or others through activities are key for successful dementia care. Activities for people with dementia and other forms of memory loss come with many benefits.

  • Our activities for memory loss are designed to inspire participation and provide engaging mental stimulation.
  • Activities can provide ongoing context that brings about meaning, social interaction and a sense of belonging.
  • Our carers will perform activities with residents, guiding them as needed, to see how much they can do for themselves. This is another way we can measure functional abilities.
  • Failure-free activities can make people in later stages of memory loss feel successful, which may stimulate feelings of happiness. Being happily engaged in an activity and feeling a sense of accomplishment can reduce agitation, anger and depression.
  • Our resident’s feelings come first. Though we encourage interaction, we never force a resident to take part in an activity. Respecting one’s wishes is key, even if they’re expressing a desire to spend some time alone.

Surroundings of support

All Respect aged care homes are facilities with physical support in place. The entire area including personal rooms, hallways, interior and exterior social areas are designed to encourage and support independence, while prioritising safety. Our practices support these goals, as we identify ways to address the unique needs of our residents. This includes:

  • Reducing disruptive stimulation and excess noise
  • Incorporating appropriate props and cues into activities, particularly those that are navigational or wayfinding in nature
  • Providing higher levels of light due to changes in vision
  • Install­ing grab bars and non-slip floors to support shifts in balance

Trained + collaborative interdisciplinary teams

It takes a compassionate and talented team to properly accommodate people living with dementia. Each home’s clinical team and direct carers are well trained to understand the characteristics that each stage of dementia holds. This enables us to provide appropriate therapeutic techniques, including focused communication and compassionate ways to manage behaviour.

Consistent staffing

It is said that consistency breeds familiarity, and we’ve baked that idea into our staffing schedule. We know that receiving assistance from a friendly, recognisable carer is crucial. By utilising a consistent staffing plan, we honour our residents’ well-being. Familiarity can minimise agitation and help residents feel safe, supported and connected. This means an individual will receive services from a group of carers they’re acquainted with over the course of his or her stay with us. Implementing this routine helps foster trust and confidence in both the carer and in overall dementia care unit living. Consistent staffing enables us to continue to learn about a person to best support their needs.

Family support + involvement

We treat family members as partners. This begins from the very first meeting with our facility through all levels of their loved one’s care. Families can participate in shaping therapeutic plans and strategies. The information they provide us at intake and throughout residency helps us gain valuable insight on their loved one. We want to hear about important events in a person’s life, what they did for a living, which hobbies they enjoyed, and anything else they’d like to share with us. It is in the best interest of the resident to share stories and ideas with us. Painting a complete picture of their loved one allows us to employ a well-informed approach and make choices in the best interests of the individual throughout their care journey.