Grants for Blue Care dementia programs

Blue Care has received $243,000 from the Perpetual Foundation – John Thomas Wilson Endowment, The Gladys Myrtle Brown Charitable Trust and the Dr and Mrs JJ Luddy Charitable Trust.

The grants will fund two separate initiatives; a dementia specialist for 12 months in Blue Care Brisbane’s south services and a Blue Care staff education and mentoring pilot, based on Montessori for Dementia teaching methods.

Blue Care Memory Support Advisor Denise Edwards says six Blue Care sites in Queensland would pilot the Montessori for Dementia program, involving approximately 40 staff members.

“Dementia care models have historically been based on what people can’t do, whereas Blue Care and Montessori’s method identifies client’s strengths and what they can do,” Mrs Edwards says.

“Our preferred method focusses on activities clients used to do but may not remember how to, such as eating dinner, setting the table and having an active role to play in the community.

“Montessori training methods align with our Blue Care Tailor Made Memory Support Services program. This funding enables us to provide onsite mentoring to our staff, and provide additional education about ways to promote clients’ independence, their self-esteem and wellbeing.

“Our aim is to learn from these projects and apply for further funding to implement across the whole of Blue Care and assist other organisations to make the culture change.”

Blue Care Metro South General Manager Leonie Fowke says the funding would also assist Blue Care to employ a dementia specialist for 12 months to work with clients, families and other health professionals in Brisbane’s south.

“The addition of a specialist will also further enhance our Blue Care Tailor Made Memory Support Services Program,” Mrs Fowke says.“The specialist will support clients, residents, and carers in the community, by creating greater awareness and education about dementia.

“I am pleased to appoint Nerida Pankhurst, who has vast experience in aged and community care, to the position.

“Nerida has worked with Blue Care for many years, and most would know her as the Service Manager of our Coopers Plains and Sunnybank Hills (formerly Acacia Ridge) respite care centres, where she has specialised her training in the care of people living with dementia.”

Dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain, which affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

Blue Care provides dementia-specific care across its residential aged care, community care and respite care centres and services.