Living with Memory Loss

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Never too Young Younger People Living with
Dementia Services and Programs in
Australia Helen Walker Dementia Education
Manager Canberra
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In Australia last year, there was an estimated
56,000 new cases of dementia. Currently there are
220,000 people living with dementia Best
estimates of Younger people living with dementia
is 11, 060 in 2007 Baby Boomers!!!!
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CONNEXUS
Promoting positive lifestyle and support for
younger people living with dementia
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CONNEXUS

• Nexus a bond, a linked group
• Connects people living with younger onset
  dementia to
• others in similar situations
• past interests
• new activities

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AIMS

• To actively identify and respond to needs
  around leisure and lifestyle activities and so
• increase community involvement
• reduce social isolation
• improve health and well-being

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• Bi-monthly social lunches
• Volunteering in a local residential facility
• Instruction / Transport for Lawn bowls
• Volunteer buddy to attend Strength for Life
  program in local gym
• Careworker support to attend church program
• A Using the Computer Course
• Ten Pin Bowling
• Photography Group
• Weekly walks and City to Bay Fun Run

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'Saturdays for Us'
Aim of Program
To provide men over the age of 55 years with a
diagnosis of younger onset Dementia an
opportunity to enhance their quality of life
through a program that is ..
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'Under the Boardwalk'
Approach of Program

• Collaborative
• Flexible
• Client led
• Encourages social development
• Operates on weekends
• Integrates participants into mainstream
  community activities

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'The Great Escape!'
About the Program

• Caters for up to 10 eligible men
• Operates each Saturday afternoon
• Transport is included

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Whats a living with memory loss group?

• Living with Memory Loss groups are specifically
  designed for people in the early stage of
  dementia, together with a family member or friend
  if you choose to have them accompany you.
  Initially, a 6 week group program is held.
  Ongoing support groups are then offered (usually
  monthly).

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Whats discussed?
Symptoms and diagnosis Adapting to changes
Research and new drug treatments Practical
strategies Relationships with family and friends
Looking after yourself Planning for the future
Community services Legal issues Where to from
here?
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What are the benefits of attending
Obtain information Have questions answered Talk
confidentially with others in a similar situation
Discuss experiences and express feelings in a
safe environment Focus on maintaining and
enhancing skills and abilities Explore ways of
managing now and into the future
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• POLDER MODEL
• The Polder Model is a major innovation in service
  and care.
• A system of tight co-operation between staff,
  residents and family members
• particularly between the staff.

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What do we do?

• Same staff work with the same residents.
• Residents are housed in groups of 15-20.
• Team work is the focus of how care is delivered.
• Focus on what residents can do.
• Focus on family involvement.
• Care staff deliver as many services as possible..
• No blame environment.
• Mentoring rather than managing.

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What are the outcomes?

• Cost neutral because
• Reduced registered nursing costs
• Increased personal care hours
• Increased time for residents.
• Reduced agency staff costs because staff more
  content.
• Increased flexibility of rostering.
• Focus on work/family balance policies.
• Reduced turnover, absenteeism.
• Savings associated with recruitment and training
  costs.

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• The real cost (benefit) has been a change in
  attitude/work culture we can do more and there
  is always more than one right answer.
• POLDER MODEL
• DutchCare Ltd
• ceo_at_dutchcare.com.au
• 03 9782 6633

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Mercy Community Care Social Support Younger
Onset Dementia Program

• HACC (Home and Community Care) funded service.
• People under 65 years of age who have a dementia
  diagnosis.
• Live in the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai and Ryde/ Hunters
  Hill local government areas.
• Referrals received from all sources eg- Aged Care
  Assessment Teams, General Practitioners, family
  and other agencies.

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The Social Support Younger Onset Dementia
Program

• Supports clients with Younger Onset Dementia to
  participate in social activities within the
  community with the support of a paid care worker.
• Offers both one to one and combined activities
  depending on individual clients preferences.
• The plan is flexible and adjusted according to
  clients individual needs and dementia
  progression.

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The Social Support Younger Onset Dementia Program

• Re-establishes or maintains previous interests
  such as
• Visits to the theatre
• Table tennis
• Ten pin bowling
• Bush walking
• Shopping and coffee

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Mercy Community Care Dementia Day Centre

• HACC funded service for people with dementia.
• Currently one day streamed towards people with
  Younger Onset Dementia.
• Activities include both centre based and social
  outings such as

• Picnics
• Sailing
• Movies
• B.B.Qs .

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Respite Doesnt Always Mean Separation.
An Australian Government Initiative
Getaway with Dementia
Contact Deanne Ballard Alzheimers Australia ACT
02 62550722
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Identified Need
Reluctance to use residential respite WHY? ? A
sense of guilt. ? A belief partner would feel
dumped. ? A belief that person with dementia
would not cope with someone else doing things for
them (particularly personal care). ? That life
would be harder when they came home. ? That the
person with dementia would not be happy.
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Gone fishing
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Summary
These weekends away provided opportunities for ?
Carers learn from each other ? A forum where
staff could model appropriate responses people
with dementia to enjoy a normal social
holiday environment ? A reduction of unreal
expectations because people were with their
peers. ? A safe environment for trialing
controlled respite alternatives ? A firm basis
for future integration into education and support
groups ? An impetus for couples to explore
other respite options ? A renewed sense of a
couples importance as a husband and wife, not
as carer and cared for
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Carers CottageHome away from HomeFlexible
and Individual breaks day or nightHigh staff to
client ratioSupport everyday living skills and
socialisationReflects the clients past
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Host Home Model

• Paid home worker trained and supported to provide
  care in family home
• Ideal for those newly diagnosed or who have
  trouble socialising or need one on one care in a
  consistent environment
• Can extend to overnight respite if required
• Number of people supported can be adjusted
  depending on needs usually max of three
• Suitable for those who prefer smaller home
  environment
• people can be partnered according to interests,
  skill levels, compatibility, locations.
• Transport often provided
• Suitable for working carers.

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Never too Young Younger People Living with
Dementia Services and Programs in
Australia Helen Walker Dementia
Education www.alzheimers.org.au