AGED CARE REFORM CONSULTATION PAPERS COUNSEL ASSISTING’S DRAFT ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
November 24, 2020CHA LODGES SUBMISSION ON PROPOSED VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING LEGISLATION IN QLD
November 26, 2020
With almost half a million Australians living with dementia, Catholic aged care providers are going above and beyond to deliver the very best specialist care available.
This includes Catholic Healthcare’s new Memory Support Unit at Villa Maria in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, which has just opened its doors to residents.
The purpose-built home has 18 residential places and a range of dementia-specific leisure and wellbeing activities. All staff have specialised training and experience in dementia care.
Residential Manager of Villa Maria, Beth Kitoli, said: “Our new unit, designed in accordance with Dementia Services Australia’s best practice standards, provides dementia-specific care that is flexible and meets individual resident needs.
“Our personalised care approach is based on respect and nurturing each individual to really get to know who they are, learning about each resident’s interests, experiences and passions and encouraging them to pursue these and discover new ones so that we can care for them better,” added Beth.
The Memory Support Unit will be home to 18 residents living with dementia. Five new residents have already moved into the new home and further residents will follow in the coming weeks.
Dementia is now the second leading cause of all deaths in Australia. In 2020, there is an estimated 459,000 Australians living with dementia. Unless there is a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase to 590,000 by 2028 and 1,076,000 by 2058 further highlighting the need for ever more aged care services.
Catholic Healthcare is looking to meet the extra demand with a number of new developments and upgrades of its aged care provision in NSW and Queensland.
This includes the transfer to Catholic Healthcare of the St Hedwig aged care and retirement village in Blacktown in Western Sydney.
Catholic Healthcare CEO David Maher said: “The Village is currently undergoing redevelopment including the construction of 72 new retirement living units and, in the future, will also include a new residential care home.”
A new 144-bed home at Casula in southwest Sydney should also be open by Christmas.
