Facing dementia: A call for care
To mark Dementia Action Week, Nick Ryan, CEO of Lutheran Services shares his perception on the challenges facing the sector from the growing rates of dementia.
Australia has been blessed with rising life expectancy. But with this blessing comes the challenge of increasing numbers of older people with dementia.
Dementia – in its more than 100 forms – is the single leading cause of death in women in Australia. It’s also the leading cause of death behind heart disease, with more than 420,000 Australians living with dementia today. Sombrely, this number is set to double in the coming decades.
For aged care providers across the country, like Lutheran Services, we now have more than 50 per cent of our residents diagnosed with dementia. This poses many logistical challenges. It also poses a critical question – ‘how do we support people with dementia to live to their potential, all things considered?’
It’s so important as a sector that we get this right.
Advances in medicine and technology, combined with the greater provision of government subsided home care, allows more people with dementia to stay living at home longer. However, for an increasing number of older Australians, residential aged care is the best option to provide the appropriate support and care for more advanced stages of the condition.
We need to ensure this level of care and staffing numbers keeps up with demand. At Lutheran Services, we encourage more people to enter the sector and support initiatives that nurture graduate RNs for a career in aged care, incentivise overseas nurses to move to regional areas and offer paid work experience for carers studying for their Certificate III.
New AI technologies can also play a role in enhancing quality of life for people with dementia in aged care. We’re participating in a landmark AI dementia study to help residents enjoy mealtimes. This is vital research, as malnutrition rates are high among residents with dementia. We’ve also put in place PainChek AI software to improve pain management for residents with dementia who are non-verbal.
Above all, we seek to provide effective care that promotes the wellbeing and dignity of our residents. Our Model of Care and Service puts resident wellbeing at the heart of all we do – supporting human to human interactions, belonging, purpose, individuality, safety and, wherever possible, moments of shared joy.
I commend Dementia Australia in leading this year’s national campaign for Dementia Action Week, calling on people to ‘act now for a dementia-friendly future’.
We can all take steps to increase our awareness of dementia and support people to live active and fulfilling lives. This is a community-wide issue, which requires a community-wide response.
While there is no cure, a deeper understanding of dementia has demonstrated that lifestyle choices, combined with the right medical care, can go some way to slowing its progression. The more we can keep people active, engaged and involved in rich relationships, the better equipped they can be to continue living with dementia – not just ‘suffering’ through it.
For aged care providers, supporting families is vital. This is not just handling any worries about their loved one’s condition but helping them maintain levels of engagement and meaningful relationships.
A dementia diagnosis, no matter how concerning, still provides many opportunities to celebrate identity, worth, shared laughter and moments of connection for people with dementia, their family members and friends. A diagnosis can be challenging and confronting. But there’s also much we can do.
Every person deserves to be supported in a way that honours their dignity, worth and individuality. We’re privileged to support people with dementia and play our part to ensure a dementia-friendly future.
Nick Ryan is CEO of Lutheran Services – one of Queensland’s longest established aged care providers
