Designed for memory care
Looking to the latest dementia research, Loreto’s women’s-only dementia-specific wing incorporates a layout, safety features and design elements to support meaningful, purposeful activity, in a secure and stable environment.
Dementia is a national health priority, with more than 445,000 people living with dementia in Australia today. It is the leading cause of death for women, and the third leading cause of death for men. Currently, 52% of residents in aged care in Australia have dementia.
Loreto Home for the Aged is a women’s-only home, located on Fulham Road across from the Mater Hospital and backing onto Anderson Gardens. While run by a Catholic organisation, residents do not need to be Catholic.
Last year, the 27-bed residential aged care facility opened a purpose-built nine-bedroom wing for residents living with dementia, to bring the centre to 36 bedrooms total.
“Mercy Community Services NQ’s Board members, led by Sister Carmel King, had the vision to build a safe haven for women living with dementia that provides a model of care not available otherwise in Townsville,” says Loreto’s Director of Nursing, Michelle Yanner.
“Research shows people living with dementia benefit from being in a smaller home environment,” offers Michelle. “The nine women live together and form a household with staff, where normal, daily life and social participation is emphasised.”
Residents benefit from a familiar domestic environment, surrounded by personal possessions in their private bedroom, and a manageable lounge and kitchen space which they can use with the support of safety-enhanced appliances and staff.
“Our dementia-specific wing is secure to provide a safe wandering environment, and has an easily understood layout to minimises feelings of confusion,” says Michelle. “Dementia often comes with conditions such as depression, agitation and difficulty sleeping. Research shows lack of exposure to sunlight, especially in the morning hours, can increase symptoms of depression. The home is designed to capture natural light and boasts an incredible skylight over the dining room area for a sun-filled space.”
Outside, there’s a large veranda for dining and garden paths that loop back for easy wayfinding. An outdoor laundry and hills hoist may seem purely domestic, but Michelle says there is great value in the routine and mental and physical activity required in hanging out personal laundry.
“Global research by Alzheimer’s Disease International tells us dementia disproportionately affects women, and the symptoms women live with are more severe,” says Michelle. “Our approach focuses on residents being involved in daily activities that bring that purpose to their lives and provide stability and clarity for them, and which can reduce dementia symptoms. Often, our residents have been traditional housewives, and find great meaning in domestic activities like washing dishes, gardening, helping to prepare breakfast and making a cup of tea.
“We support extensive staff education with regard to psychosocial approaches to dementia care,” says Michelle. “We have seen reductions in prescribed antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for residents, compared to what they were prescribed and taking before moving to Loreto. We know mortality and fall rates have been linked to higher doses and longer duration of psychotropic medication.”
Michelle says this level of care is enhanced by Loreto’s staffs’ individual gifts, from cooking to singing, dancing to gardening, which they share with residents. Loreto’s social calendar offers fortnightly physio classes, monthly balance and limb strengthening classes with an exercise physiologist, as well as the usual Tai Chi, yoga, table games, sand art and more.
“Many people are at crisis point before they apply to residential aged care facilities,” says Michelle. “It’s good to plan early, and research and tour facilities before that point.”
