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Help with aged care homes

Aged care homes for people with dementia

Deciding to move your family member or friend to an aged care home can be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll ever make. However, knowing about the services available, government policies and the costs involved can help you make the best possible choices.


How do I go about getting someone with dementia into an aged care home?

The best place to start is with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information) to determine whether the person requires low-level care or high-level care. As well as determining the level of care required, the ACAT will provide names and addresses of suitable aged care homes for you to visit and choose from. You and your family can discuss any concerns or issues that you may have with the team. For more information on how to access an aged care home, download the following popular guide: 5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care.

Read more: about accessing care

Aged care homes specialising in dementia

While all homes cater for residents with dementia, some provide more targeted dementia services. These homes generally have staff who are specially trained, and areas that have been specifically designed for people with dementia.

Not all people with dementia require a specific dementia unit in an aged care home. However, people with special care needs, such as those who may not be safely accommodated in general residential facilities, are best suited for these homes.

Next step: Aged Care Home Finder

Choosing a home

The ACATwill probably suggest you look at a number of homes. Try to work through the list of facilities you’ve been given in an organised way and ensure that you see at least three places, taking notes as you go. Take someone with you if it helps.

Aged care homes are required under the Accreditation Standards (more information) to respond to individualised needs and activity programs, be flexible about visiting hours within reason, ensure privacy and space to spend time with visitors, provide separate areas for people with special needs, a quiet space away from the TV and safe wandering areas. They should also be able to offer culturally appropriate care, involve relatives in care-giving, offer effective pain management solutions and use minimal restraint when residents show behaviours of concern.

When assessing aged care homes there are many factors to weigh up. For example, is it more important that your family member has a large room or is it more important that the home is located within easy visiting distance?

It’s also possible that your preferred home will not have an available bed. If this is the case make sure you’re not pressured into accepting the first offer you receive and keep in touch with your preferred home should a vacancy become available.

Alzheimer’s Australia produces a checklist that may help you choose a home. You can get your copy by calling the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or by visiting the Alzheimer’s Australia website.
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Planning for the move

People with dementia can be disturbed by change, so if possible introduce the person you care for to the new home gradually, so that the place becomes a little more familiar and a little less confusing and frightening. Sometimes, of course, this is simply not possible, especially if the move has to be made quickly, but even then it’s important to emphasise the positive aspects of the move, such as the possibility of making new friends and enjoying new activities. Over time, and with careful planning and sensitive handling of the move, you should find that the person you care for will make the adjustment. If you have concerns about the move talk to the care manager of the home.

Moving in

It may help to make sure that the person's room has as many familiar items as possible to make the change easier. Family photos, familiar prints, paintings or bedcovers can all make the new room look more similar to their previous bedroom.

It also helps to recognise that it may take some time for the person you care for to adjust to their new situation. This may not be easy for you, and many carers visit frequently during this period of adjustment, while others take the opportunity to recover from the stress of care-giving. There is no rule about how many times you should visit or how involved you should be in the care.

Suggestions for visits

Visits can become harder as the abilities of the person your care for decline. Still, there are many ways to make your visit pleasurable. For example: Sometimes the person with dementia will not want you to leave. If this is the case you can try diverting them, or announcing when you arrive that you can only stay for an hour. It may also be helpful not to extend your goodbyes. If you are concerned, talk to the care manager in the home.

Also, it’s not uncommon for new residents to express a desire to go home. If this is the case acknowledge the feelings behind this wish and reassure them that they’ll be safe where they are. Alternatively, you can try distracting them with another activity, but don’t disagree with them if possible.
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Taking care of yourself

After the move you may feel relieved, guilty, or just sad, and your daily activities will have changed, sometimes quite dramatically. During this period, it’s important that carers take care of themselves and accept support from family and friends. You may also wish to call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 if you need someone to talk to. Many aged care homes also run support groups for relatives as they recognise the difficulties of the move and try to make things as easy as possible.

Your new role

Even when you stop the physical tasks of caring there are many ways that you can continue to care. After all, you’re still the person who knows most about the resident and their needs, so you’re well placed to work in partnership with professionals in the aged care home to advise, recommend and ensure the best possible quality of care.

To ensure that your family member or friend receives the most sensitive care you may wish to offer family background and information on likes, dislikes, language and cultural preferences. You can also help develop and review a care plan and ask to be consulted if there are any changes in behaviour. You can also expect to be consulted about daily living issues and to be invited to read their notes and attend family meetings about the running of the facility.

What if I’m not happy with the care?

If you feel that the facility is not responsive to the needs of your family member or that you’re not getting the level of care you expect you can get more support by contacting:

Where else can I get help?

Next step: Aged Care Home Finder
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Alzheimers Australia
(02) 6254 4233
Aged Care Information Line
1800 500 853
National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Australia.
1800 259 666
Dementia Helpline - 24 hour
1800 100 500
The Brain Foundation
1300 886 660

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This page was last updated on: 04 October 2007