Benetas improving lives

Benetas, one of Victoria’s leading not-for-profit aged care providers, has launched a new program to improve the lives of people living with dementia at home with their families.

Benetas chief executive, Sandra Hills, said the Memory Loss and Dementia Service, which took two years to develop and has been offered to clients over the past six months, is improving the quality of life for people living with dementia, their carers and families.

“We created this new service because as people come to need our support, whether in residential care or in-home care, they consistently tell us they struggle to cope with caring for someone with dementia in the family home,” Ms Hills said.

“With this insight from our clients and families, combined with our experience as an aged care provider and knowledge that people want to live at home for as long as possible, we knew we had to come up with a solution.”

According to Ms Hills, the Memory Loss and Dementia Service “reassures families they don’t have to face the challenges of the condition on their own”.

“Through our service they have access to support, advice and strategies to ensure everyone in the family has the best quality of life possible,” she added.

The service offers highly qualified advisors who meet with families and carers to develop a tailored plan to support the individual with dementia and the family.

The tailored plan provides referrals and connections to the right services, advice on home safety and behaviour management and advice on what future medical, legal and financial arrangements can be made.

“Our service helps families make sense of the maze of doctors, departments and services that so often leave people feeling anxious, frustrated and alone,” Ms Hills said.

“Most importantly, it delivers an individualised, tailored plan that addresses the specific challenges facing families caring for someone with dementia.

“It’s not an off-the-shelf plan – that simply wouldn’t work. Instead, our advisors spend time getting to know the person with dementia and their family, and offer advice, support and a tailored plan to specifically meet their unique needs and challenges.”

How does it work?

A memory loss and dementia advisor makes an initial appointment to visit the person living with dementia and their family at home. During the home visit, the advisor takes the family through a comprehensive interview and talks to the carers and family involved in supporting the client. The advisor then works with the person living with dementia and their family to assess their needs and capabilities and develops a detailed support plan. The plan includes:

• providing referrals and advice on support services

• home safety

• behaviour management strategies

• advice on what legal, financial and medical preparation can be made

• information about memory loss and dementia

The service is $540 and may be funded as part of a Commonwealth Aged Care package.

People interested in the service can call 1300 23 63 82 to arrange a meeting with a Memory Loss and Dementia Advisor, or fill out an enquiry form on the Benetas website at www.benetas.com.au and an advisor will call you back. Appointments can be scheduled from 1 July 2012 onwards.