A NEW innovative Staying at Home program for carers and people living with dementia is coming to Cairns.
Staying at Home project leader Tom Gauci said living at home for as long as possible was the healthiest, happiest choice for most people living with dementia and their partners or other family carers.
“But, without effective methods for coping and caring, home living can be stressful for the carer and the person living with dementia. That doesn’t need to be the case,” he said.
Mr Gauci said to support both, Dementia Support Australia (DSA) was running Staying at Home, an innovative three-day/ two-night residential program around Australia.
He said it was Australian Government-funded, there was no cost to participants and places were open at Kewarra Beach from Tuesday, May 16 to Thursday, May 18.
“Everyone wants to continue living at home,” Mr Gauci said.
“It’s our place of comfort, familiarity and security.
“Staying at Home empowers people living with dementia and their carers to continue living together at home for as long as possible.”
Mr Gauci said carers were taught how best to manage behaviour changes that came with dementia, how to obtain 24/7 support from DSA’s staff and other community services, how to plan ahead and, very importantly, how to care for their own well-being.
“Participants living with dementia are supported to continue activities they treasure – gardening or creative arts, for example, or excursions into the community – introduced to respite care, and have an opportunity to discuss their diagnosis with the DSA team and the participants,” he said.
“One of the great benefits of the program for family carers is they share experiences and learnings with others in similar situations,” said Marie Alford, head of Dementia Support Australia at HammondCare.
“They know they’re not alone.”
“The program was amazing,” said a family carer who attended the program in Victoria.
“The opportunity to meet with other carers was very enlightening ... sharing thoughts, emotions and lots of other issues and suggestions was very helpful.
“The (Staying at Home) team made the program fun while caring for our loved ones and at the same time imparting their knowledge and tips for coping.
“Providing time away from caring duties let us all have a break. I returned home feeling rested.”
Mr Gauci said: “We are seeing that it is very powerful for carers to come together, learn from each other and build a community of support.
“At the same time, our guests living with dementia have embraced the chance to talk openly about their diagnosis and connect with people sharing experiences.”
For more details go to dementia.com.au or click the following link in our online edition: https://bit.ly/44Aqz4z
