practical living
Affordable
dementia
plans
I
The number of residents in
cognitive decline in aged care is
only going to go up; however,
some cost-effective steps
can provide a safer, healthier
environment for all involved.
• What are the legal risks? How do I
appropriately discharge my duty of care?
This article aims to provide a framework
to commence planning.
By Erica Lambert and Kerrie Storey
The most vital step for operators of existing
villages is to develop an environmental risk
identification and management strategy.
This facilitates a systematic, process for
prioritising and planning modifications
to the village. It also enables operators
to budget accordingly. Operators who
undertake this process testify that it
empowers them, giving them a feeling of
being in control of the situation and, most
importantly, facilitates meeting their duty
of care.
The first component of this process is
an incident audit. This means undertaking
an analysis of incidents over the past
12 months involving people diagnosed
with dementia and those with known
cognitive challenges. Use a site plan of the
village to mark up where those incidents
occurred and consider how the physical
environment may have directly or indirectly
contributed to those incidents.
Next, develop a ‘gap analysis’ of the site
and relevant buildings (both communal
and residents’ houses) in conjunction with
a trusted specialist who has experience
designing for people with dementia. This
involves walking around the site identifying
risk points, while being practical regarding
the level of risk exposure for residents and
n many locations across Australia,
there are insufficient places available
for people with dementia in memory
support units within residential aged-care
facilities. This means retirement village
operators are increasingly grappling
with how to provide safe, supportive and
enjoyable environments for residents with
diminishing cognition.
Firstly, let’s explore the depth of
the issue. In 2015, there were about
190,000 seniors living in retirement
villages; this number is projected to
increase to close to 400,000 by 2050. The
average age of those residents is 81 and
the incidence of people with dementia
aged 80–85 is 11 per cent for men and
14 per cent for women – and it increases
with age (see table on opposite page). The
depth of the challenge for RV operators
is obvious.
Over the next 30 years, the number of
people with dementia will treble (2016:
353,800 people with dementia in Australia).
A useful guide for estimating the number of
residents in your village with dementia is the
RV Dementia Prevalence Calculator found
24 agedcareinsite.com.au
in The Dementia Guide for the Australian
Retirement Village Industry, Alzheimer’s
Australia 2015. Be aware that there are
probably many more residents without a
diagnosis of dementia who are in various
stages of cognitive decline. It is generally
accepted that it is, on average, three years
from first onset of dementia to diagnosis.
WHAT keeps operATors Up AT nigHT
Many operators’ minds are occupied with
questions such as:
• How do we find the right balance
between providing a suitable environment
for people with dementia and retaining
appeal for other residents and
their families?
• What physical modifications are required
in our village to meet our duty of care to
residents to keep them safe, and what are
the costs vs returns?
• What care and services do I need to
consider to support these residents,
especially when they live alone?
• How do I ensure an inclusive and
supportive organisational culture within
my team?
WHere To sTArT