Ageing Zestfully

Lets change attitudes and Myths

• Dementia is a shift in the way a person experiences the world

• Living with Dementia is an individual journey

• Communication is the key building cognitive ramps

• Care partnerships are the key

• A framework to guide practice is a good starting point

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Bethanie Overview

• 950 residential places (12 locations)

• 3,500 community clients (packages, HACC, NRCP, Day therapy, Social Centres)

• 1,000 retirement units

• 1,600 employees and 600 volunteers

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Life can be a challenge, especially when it comes to dementia. Talking about it can sometimes help

But why all this stigma?

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Therapy Services at Bethanie

Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists located within each residential facility as well as contracted allied health staff such as dieticians and podiatrists

Therapy assistants and lifestyle coordinators are also found at our sites, implementing interventions under the direction of our Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists.

Key areas that are overseen by the team:

Mobility

Falls Prevention

Pain Management

Maintaining physical and cognitive functioning

Complex seating/positioning and pressure care

Psychosocial wellbeing & social inclusion

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The Value of Therapy

Our Physiotherapists and Occupational therapist have a primary focus of ensuring all activities; 1:1 interventions and groups, have a therapeutic benefit to our residents, and is more than just a social activity.

Strong focus on evidence based practice.

Environment that supports continued learning and skills development of our Therapists and therapy assistants, to meet the complex needs of our residents

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Exploring the future • A wellbeing approach “wellness

wheel”

• Care environments enabling people not disabling people

• CommunicAid app assistive technology

• Mobile dementia respite services

• Dementia on the “high street “ shop fronts

• Increased volunteers buddy for a person who has dementia

Well Being for Care Partners• Making time to address the

physical and emotional and spiritual needs

• Taking time out

• Set limits

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Advance Care Planning

The palliative care team communicates effectively and builds trust

Facilitates the conversation about end of life preferences

Encourages the documentation of these wishes e.g. Advance Health Directive

Ensures the document is readily available to those that need to know

The assessment includes all physical aspects for care e.g. measuring verbal and non verbal clients for physical and emotional pain

Compassion for the psychological aspects of care and includes skilful listening

Social aspects of care

Cultural aspects of care

Care of the imminently dying person

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The Reality

• Individual support from an interdisciplinary team –how do we prevent the family disabling a clients

• The family carer from becoming ill themselves?

• Increased social stigma needs to be prevented

• Institutionalisation is not the answer

• The value of the Therapy team is still not fully understood

• The value of Recreational Respite /Retreats is formidable

• National Dementia Standards to guide leadership needs to be maximised across the country

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“A society which places greater emphasis on intellect and reason than the ideals of community and love”

Person hood is about “persons!!”

(Professor John Swinton talks about our hypercognitive society U.K.)

Thankyou!

Contact Michelle.Harris@bethanie.com.au

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References

• Dawn Brooker (2013)

• Richard Flemming (2014)

• John Swinton (2012)

• Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles (2013)

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