Supporting a person living with dementia to continue their life at home is a rewarding role, but it can be challenging.
Staying at Home is a free carer wellbeing and respite program designed to empower and upskill carers to support a person living with dementia to remain at home for as long as possible.
With a strong focus on wellbeing and self-care, carers will be equipped to navigate the complexities and challenges of supporting a person living with dementia.
“Partners, family and other home carers need to learn to maintain their own wellbeing, as well as navigate the challenges of supporting someone living with dementia,” said Marie Alford, who helped designed and implement the program.
“We can teach effective techniques for both dementia home care and carers’ self-care at Dementia Support Australia’s respite retreats,” said Alford, who is now a senior executive at HammondCare, which manages Dementia Support Australia.
Dementia Support Australia will lead a free three-day, two-night respite retreat at the Steele’s Island Resort, Carlton River, from Tuesday May 20 to Thursday May 22, and Alford is encouraging carers and the people they support at home to register and explore suitability.
People living with dementia will be introduced to respite – temporary care outside the home – one of the strategies for extending meaningful, enjoyable lives at home.
Respite retreats are an important part of Dementia Support Australia’s Staying at Home program, funded by the Australian Government and free to participants with food and accommodation provided.
“Home is our place of familiarity and safety, and Staying at Home empowers carers and people living with dementia to stay together in the community for as long as possible,” said Alford.
“Another important benefit of respite retreats is that carers engage with each other, they share their experiences and know they are not alone.”
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in 2022 some 10,357 people were living with dementia in Tasmania. Around 67% were living in the community (rather than institutional care). By 2058, the number of people living with dementia is projected to more than double.
This free respite retreat is from May 20-22 at Carlton River, Tasmania.
Carers can register for the Carlton River retreat here.
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