Having a sense of ‘home’ when you make the transition to residential aged care is just as important as the clinical care you received, according to the latest State of the Family Report from Anglicare Australia.
Not-for-profit aged care provider Benetas is aiming to do just that with a new approach that is seeing their facilities purposely designed as a ‘home’ first.
The model sees groups of eight residents living together in apartments with a shared living area, a dining room and a kitchen and the support of one main carer.
Residents can take part in activities with other residents, stay within their apartments and socialise with only their neighbours or just keep to their rooms.
Care services such as laundry and clinical services are also hidden away so there aren’t drug trolleys or medical charts lying around.
And it’s having a positive effect. “It is now not uncommon to see carers, residents and families milling around the kitchen bench together enjoying a cuppa and a yarn,” says Benetas Research and Innovation Manager Catherine Joyce.
A sense of belonging
Benetas say they were driven to change their approach by the need to create a better sense of belonging and security for residents.
Outlined in the report is the fact is most people don’t want to leave their home and move into residential aged care.
“I loved living in my own home. I built that home, and my daughter lived just next door. But when the time came and it became too much for my daughter to look after me I knew it was the right choice,” Benetas resident Sheila says.
Often when someone has to make the move suddenly following a health crisis or hospital stay, there is a sense of grief and loss.
“I like it here but I wasn’t in a position to make a choice about it…,” resident Phil (name changed) says. “My son thought I’d like it here because of the ocean and I do…but not having a choice in it all and not being able to make my peace with leaving home has been tough.”
Either way, it’s not an easy transition for both residents and their families.
But with Consumer-Directed Care for aged care on its way, there will be more choice and control for residents to ensure their new home really does feel like ‘home’ – and that’s got to be a good thing.
