Six remarkable change makers in the sector have been acknowledged for their inspirational efforts to break down negative barriers facing older people with a mental health condition, at the Positive Living in Aged Care Awards in Sydney yesterday.

Aged care facilities in Katoomba, Killara and Hamlyn Terrace received first prize in their respective category, for their award-winning mental health and wellbeing projects, while the remaining three finalists came in at a close second. 

The Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Barbara Perry, presented the awards during a seminar with a range of guest speakers all of whom stressed the importance of a promoting a positive image of older people.

The big winner of the day however was the intergenerational program concept, as half of the competition's finalists were actually recognised for their work in challenging age-related boundaries.

UnitingCare Ageing’s Starrett Lodge in Hamlyn Terrace won an award for its intergenerational project which links residents with local mother and baby groups.

Care manager, Colin McDonnell and clinical nurse consultant, Helga Merl, presented the details of their project on stage after the awards were announced.

“I don’t know if there are winners or losers but I know that everyone here has put in an extraordinary amount of effort into everything they do,” said Ms Merl.

During their presentation the pair pointed to research which stated that by the age of three, children have already formed negative views about older people, believing that they are “ugly, tired and helpless”. Their project, the pair said, aimed to encourage meaningful interaction between young and old for the benefit of resident and child alike.

Referring to the issue of the ageing population, Mr McDonnell said that: “By 2050 these three year olds will be making decisions about how much tax will be spent on us and I want them to make good decisions and have a good attitude to elderly people.”

“…It’s all about seeing the individual.”

Ms Merl commented that prior to commencing the project it was common for the cognitively aware residents to fear the dementia unit.

She said it was also incredibly difficult to get participants as this fear of dementia initially hovered around their project. As a result, the staff went beyond the call of duty to get involved, tapped into their contacts and brought in children to play with the older residents on ‘Babies Day’ once a week.

Ms Merl said that their program went far to change the perceptions of the cognitively able residents. 

“They started to think, ‘Perhaps it’s not the worst thing that can happen to you because guess what, you get the babies every week’.”

“The program changes people’s lives…It gives people a different perspective.

“When they talk to babies and children, no matter how severe their dementia is, it shows that they are still normal and are still people. [Through this program] you get a different perspective and see where they come from.”

Speaking about the experience of running the program, Ms Merl said: “When I go in I have a permanent smile for about an hour and a half. I come out [from the session] and my face hurts from smiling.

“I hope that someone brings me a baby when I am in an aged care facility. I really do.”

The facility also takes residents living with dementia to a local preschool once a week and conducts a primary-school intergenerational project for the cognitively aware.

The awards were developed by the NSW Health Older People’s Mental Health Working Group and judged by both the Aged and Community Services Association NSW & ACT (ACS) and Aged Care Association (ACAA) NSW.

And the winners were….

Killara Gardens, Pathways Aged Care, Killara for a wellbeing program to increase socialisation of older people with depression and anxiety through a range of partnerships and activities including dance and pet therapy.

Starrett Lodge, UnitingCare Ageing, Hamlyn Terrace for a strategy to reduce the risk of the development of a mental health condition with their project, Quality of Life and Intergenerational Program for people living with dementia linking mother and baby groups with residents.
 
Anita Villa, Riviera Health, Katoomba for a strategy to reduce the risk of developing symptoms of a mental health condition for residents with special needs with their project, Safe Space at Our Place – a strategy to address the lack of culturally appropriate services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual older people and promote their mental health and wellbeing.

The runners-up awards go to...
 
Mt Carmel House, Catholic Care of the Aged, Port Macquarie: Memories of My Youth project to support residents’ positive mental health and bridge the intergenerational gap through programs involving school children.

Macquarie Care Centre, Catholic Healthcare, Bathurst: The Sense of Worth Program is a multifaceted model of care with new initiatives around staff training and support and meaningful activities for residents.

Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Homes, Randwick: Intergenerational Strategy: The Zikaron V’Tikvah project to improve the quality of life of Holocaust survivors through interaction between residents and school children.

 Above: Award applicants and speakers on stage with the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Barbara Perry.