Constructing a “superhighway” for our

future – CDC in community aged care

A Good Life for All

By Wina Kung

Executive Manager (Positive Ageing)

UnitingCare lifeAssist

ACSA IAHSA Joint International Conference 2015

Global Communities Coming Together

About UnitingCare lifeAssist

Key areas for today’s presentation

• Our history of CDC practice

• Our understanding of CDC

• Our clients

• Our journey of implementing CDC

• Our challenges

Constructing a super highway

Our CDC Model: People at Centre Stage 2009-2012

Aim:

To develop a flexible and responsive, yet safe, community aged care

model that empowers and enables older people and their carers to

shape and direct the services they receive with the aim to improve

overall care outcomes.

People at Centre Stage (PACS) Research

Principles:

Choice, Control and Flexibility

Independently evaluated outcomes

PACS CDC intervention group participants were:

5 x more satisfied with their overall care;

5 x more satisfied with their treatment;

3½ x more satisfied with their care options;

5 x more satisfied that they had a say in their care;

3 x more satisfied with the information they received and

3½ x more likely to state that the service changed their view

on what they can achieve in their lives.

What is Consumer Directed Care Approach?

Resources identified and pathways discovered to help

support the person in the fulfilment of their dreams.

Once the objective is clear Case Manager and Client/their families

work together to identify the people, activities and community links

needed.

Before care planning, Case Manager works WITH Client and

their families to find what will help them to move towards their

goals /dreams so that the supports they get help them get where

they want

CDC Model starts with the person, identifies who they

are, their interests, capabilities and priorities

Case Study - Mary

How about we bring the world to Her!

Case Study – Mr. Smith

Case Study – Mr. Smith• Socially isolated

• Personal hygiene issues, lost weight

• Lacks incentive

• Lack of exercise/ mental stimulation

Mr. Smith’s Dream Gardening

CDC Support Plan:

• Hire a community garden bed

• Volunteer assistance

Case Study – Mr. Smith

Case Study – Mr. Smith

Mr. smith’s Dream Gardening Achievements by using Consumer Directed Care approach:

Reduced social isolation – has friends from the community

garden with similar interests

Undertook daily exercise – walking and gardening

Maintained his own personal hygiene without assistance

Maintained his home in a reasonably clean condition

Increased self esteem

Improved his health - physically and mentally

Case Study – Ms L

Background:

• Migrant from China; used to be a very active member within the

Chinese community; one of founders of a Chinese Dancing Group for

older women

Health Conditions:

• Diagnosed as legally blind

• Suffer from osteoarthritis

• Had a serious fall

• Suffer lots of pain of her back and legs

• Totally dependent on husband re housework and going out

Case Study – Ms L

Ms L’s dream – perform again with her

friends from the Chinese Dancing Group

Sub-goals:

1. Strengthen her ability and confidence via

• Fall prevention Program

• Hydrotherapy sessions

• Occupational Therapy

2. Identify and learn to play Er-hu (A Chinese music

instrument)

3. Perform in front of a group

4. Perform with the Chinese Dancing Group

Case Study – Ms L

Celebrating achievements:

Regained her mobility and balance

Increased her confidence

Learned Er-hu and can play a couple of songs

Performed at a Chinese Senior Citizen Club

Anniversary day

Invited by her friends to join the Chinese

Dancing Group to perform in the future

Preparing her next performance with the

Chinese Dancing Group

Key Features

• Co-production model

• Partnership approach

• Person centred co-assessment and planning

• Aspirational and restorative health goal setting

• Enable informed decision making

• Self direction and capacity building

• Shift from “case management’ to coaching-mentoring

lifeAssist’s Journey

lifeAssist’s Journey (Cont.)

Support from CEO/Executive level based on the PACS

Research as the blueprint for lifeAssist’s CDC model.

Engage whole organisation to develop a CDC implementation

plan.

Communicate/Educate staff about CDC, plan and timelines.

Organise working groups to work on “systems” and “workforce”.

Self assessment - CDC readiness.

CDC Trial and Evaluation.

Implementation of a CDC transition plan.

Maintain high quality services, regular monitoring & quality

control.

Embed and consolidate CDC model into “business as usual”

within lifeAssist.

Challenges

• CDC as a catalyst for efficiencies and reducing red tape.

• Expect to re-visit, renew and refresh organisational systems such as

our back of house systems.

• Live records of spending & budget and transparent monthly

statements.

• Workforce development and capacity building for staff re CDC,

challenging their traditional practices.

• Improve outcomes for our clients and enhance their capacities to make

informed decisions.

• Reinforce the links between clients and their local communities.

• Strengthen marketing strategies to promote our services.

• Enhance customer’s experience.

Questions

Contact us:

UnitingCare lifeAssist

G/F Building 5, Brandon Office Park,

530-540 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley,

Victoria 3150, Australia

Website: www.lifeassist.org.au

Tel: (03) 9239 2500

Wina Kung, Executive Manager (Positive Ageing)

Email: wina.kung@lifeassist.org.au