About the program
The Dementia Carer Respite and Wellbeing Program aims to deliver innovative models of respite care for people living with dementia and their carers. The program will incorporate:
- combined respite care, where the person with dementia and their carer stay together
- opportunities for carers to build knowledge and skills to support their role
- opportunities for carers to improve their physical and psychological wellbeing
- peer support.
By 2024, the program can provide support to up to 1,000 families each year.
Why it is important
Carers allow people living with dementia to remain at home as long as possible.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that there are between 134,900 and 337,200 unpaid primary carers who support people living with dementia. Unpaid carers are family, friends, or community members who provide support to people living with dementia.
Goals
The program aims to:
- maintain or improve quality of life for carers and people living with dementia
- increase carer knowledge, skills and capability to care for a person living with dementia at home
- improve the experience and quality of respite care for carers and people living with dementia
- support people living with dementia to stay at home for longer.
Who we work with
HammondCare (Dementia Support Australia) is delivering the first stage of the program called Staying at Home.
Staying at Home is a free program which:
- provides carers with respite
- gives carers practical strategies for supporting people who live with dementia
- helps people living with dementia to remain at home for as long as possible
Status
HammondCare is now delivering the first stage of the program. They will work with other aged care providers to showcase this model of care. Aged care providers will be able to deliver similar models of care by applying to a grant opportunity later in 2022.
To stay up to date, please subscribe to the aged care sector newsletters and alerts.
Related information
Information about Staying at Home is available on Dementia Support Australia’s website.
Contact
To find out more information or register for the Staying at Home program, please visit the Dementia Support Australia website.
