Supporting Jeanette’s active lifestyle

From boiling a kettle for your morning cuppa to swimming with sharks and everything in between, we make choices every day that involve some level of risk. In residential aged care ‘dignity of risk’ enables us to support our residents to live their life, their way.

Making choices is part of enjoying a full, meaningful life. But as we age there are often more risks to consider in some of the everyday choices we make. Like rearranging furniture to make a room easier or safer to move about in. Choosing shoes that are more supportive for ageing feet. Or opting to serve underarm to preserve a sore shoulder so you can still enjoy a game of tennis.

At our Care Communities, dignity of risk means supporting our residents to live according to their unique wishes and preferences; helping them to enjoy the experiences they love while understanding and helping to manage the associated risk.    

Jeanette lives at Springwood Terrace Care Community in Brisbane’s south-east. One of the joys of her life is soaking up the sun on her daily walk to the bakery for a chat and to pick up the newspaper.

“Walking to the shops means the whole world to me”, says Jeanette. “It starts my day off right, and helps me to think clearly.”

Supporting Jeanette’s choices

Jeanette came to live at Springwood Terrace following her diagnosis of dementia. Jeanette’s son Paul saw the first signs of cognitive decline when he learned his mother was waking and getting ready for work at unusual hours. Despite this, Paul also knew Jeanette retained her fiercely independent spirit.

“Mum has always been the toughest woman I’ve ever known,” says Paul. “It’s what we love about her, and the Springwood Terrace team has gone out of their way to embrace this part of her personality.”

Wellbeing manager, Deborah, explains that supporting Jeanette involved having a clear understanding of Jeanette’s preferences, and making sure the right safeguards were in place. 

“We knew Jeanette had been a walker her whole life, and we knew she was physically capable of it,” says Deborah. “So, we performed a risk assessment, together with Jeanette and Paul, and we put a plan in place.”

Deborah made an ID card with a lanyard for Jeanette, containing her name and the Care Community contact details. She and Jeanette walked the route to the shops together a number of times, while Jeanette talked Deborah through her process, which demonstrated her excellent sense of road safety.

Safety is always top of mind for Jeanette.

“She wears sensible shoes and always takes her phone with her,” explains Deborah. “Jeanette always wears a hat, and if it’s raining or there are roadworks, she won’t go for a walk that day. When I took those first few walks with her, she had the marvellous idea of threading plaited wool into the trees, like breadcrumbs, as easy markers!”

Most days, Jeanette walks to the shop on her own. Deborah and our team conduct regular assessments and occasionally accompany her to ensure she can continue to do so safely.

Understanding the risks involved and managing them appropriately has helped to keep Jeanette’s world open, and her life full.  

“These walks have provided Mum with a sense of dignity and autonomy,” says Paul. “She’s always been active and stayed fit. I’m really happy she’s able to retain that life while she’s still able to.”

Jeanette’s always loved animals and connecting with nature on her walks.

“I’ve made friends with some of the magpies who fly down to greet me as I’m walking along the path,” says Jeanette. “I stop and talk to them for a moment and then they fly away.”

Dignity of risk forms part of a resident’s care plan and is agreed in consultation with the resident’s multidisciplinary care team.