Supporting people to live well with dementia

Nestled in a quiet street on the NSW Central Coast, Norah Head Care Community is proving a model in meaningful engagement for people living with dementia: a condition that impacts more than 420,000 Australians and their families.

The garden was calling when we paid a visit to Norah Head Care Community. Resident, Judy leads us to the gerberas that remind her of days admiring her grandmother’s flowers at Wingham, in the Manning Valley.

“They’re just beautiful,” says Judy. She could just as easily be talking about the passionfruit vine, tomatoes, basil, or baby eggplant that grow plentifully thanks to residents like Clyde.

An ex-bricklayer and fisheries expert (or ‘fish psychologist’ as he cheekily claims), Clyde loves working with people. Clyde finds meaning in raking frangipani leaves, and working with maintenance officer Scott to weed and water the plants. He’s proud to keep the place he calls home green and thriving.

We find the same spirit in Ken, who had “half a yard of garden” when he was younger. Ken helped plant Norah Head's raised garden beds that host cos and mignonette lettuce, cauliflower, sage and cabbage that chef Robyn uses in the stir fries, frittata, lasagne, and casseroles that residents love.

Supporting meaningful lives

Feeling misunderstood or unheard is distressing for people living with dementia and their loved ones; conversely, it’s the biggest opportunity to help people lead lives of meaning.

“Understanding a person’s cognitive age is critical to designing activities and outings that matter to that person,” explains General Manager, Jessica.

“For instance, a person aged 80 may believe they’re 30. At that stage of their life, a typical day might have involved waking up, packing lunch for the kids, then heading off to work as a teacher before coming home to mark homework. We take the time to understand the person’s life story and what drove them at their age, to learn about the things that brought them joy, and we plan activities to suit.”

“A person’s cognitive age can change over time,” adds Jessica. “That’s why building deep understanding and relationships with residents and their families is so important.”

Grab-and-go boxes with activities tailored to residents enable our team to support relevant engagement, responsively. Throughout our Care Community, you’ll find smaller groups of residents playing cards, or creating beautiful craft. Judy, who we met earlier, built a career in hospitality so folding napkins brings a sense of purpose.

“Dementia is fluid in nature, so you have to be just as fluid in how you engage,” says Shanna, wellbeing manager.

Creating the right environment for residents to thrive

For most of us, a white toilet in a white-tiled bathroom presents no problem. But for a person living with dementia, it can be very different. Impacts on vision due to dementia means a lack of colour contrast could lead a person to believe the toilet doesn’t exist. Thoughtful design can reduce confusion and distress, and improve quality of life.

Two years ago, Norah Head Care Community installed new window furnishings, carpets and furniture designed to absorb noise and reduce reflected lighting, which can cause disorientation.

Introducing multi-purpose spaces indoors and out helped create new experiences for residents. We created appropriate spaces for those who enjoy active pursuits, while preserving quiet, cosy spaces for people who may prefer to read, or are overstimulated.

“It’s not just about caring for people, it’s about helping people feel valued.” – Ally, customer support manager