Dementia program proves to be a star performer for aged care provider
A dementia support program introduced in Calvary Health Care’s aged care homes across Melbourne’s Mornington and Bayside areas has won the provider’s national quality and safety Star award.
Based on a Montessori approach, the Calvary program provides meaningful, tailored, small-group activities and support for residents living with dementia.
Calvary Aged Care General Manager, Dana Ieraci, said the memory support program had helped participants engage and enjoy activities tailored specifically to their interests and past lives, which in turn had resulted in improved clinical outcomes and more settled behaviours.
“It has also had a positive impact on other residents and staff members,” he said. “Dementia can impact memory, speech, cognition, personality, and mobility. Unfortunately, it can also affect behaviour,” Mr Ieraci said.
“Having meaningful, purposeful activities in place tailored to what the residents enjoy provides them with a better quality of life, and in some cases has also led to significant improvements in clinical aspects.
“We had one lady who came into the program quite frail, unsettled, not eating or drinking, requiring lots of support. After about a month, she started eating and drinking independently, she was smiling and had stopped being really distressed and anxious. The number of falls she was having reduced markedly and we could reduce the medications she was on. Her whole outlook and demeanour really changed.”
The program, which operates in six Calvary homes located between Rye and Brighton, won Calvary’s 2024 Star award for quality and safety.
Activities are tailored according to residents’ likes and interests with YouTube walks to take residents back to the neighbourhoods where they grew up or once lived, or to far flung places around the world once visited.
Kerry Taylor (pictured above left), a long-time care worker at Calvary Capel Sands, runs the memory support program for up to six residents from 10am to 6pm each weekday with support from other staff.
“People need a reason to do the activity and it needs to be focused on them and meaningful for each person, so it is all very individual care. There is no patronising or condescension, and I never give them activities where they might feel they have failed.
“Having purpose, finding meaning, being valued: the way it presents is different and individual, but we all have the same needs.”
A great initiative that should be applauded.
