Working together to provide comprehensive dementia care: World Alzheimer’s Month

Navigating the journey of dementia with your loved one can be difficult, but when they are residents of HillView Care, you don’t have to do it alone. Our dementia care staff understand the complexities and emotional toll it can take on both our residents and their families. During World Alzheimer’s Month, we want to highlight how we can all work together to help your loved one thrive at HillView Care.

How to help your loved one feel more at home in aged care

Adjusting to aged care living can be especially challenging for someone with dementia. They might not fully understand why they cannot stay at home or in their familiar surroundings. However, in HillView’s dementia care, your loved one will experience new people, routines, and environments. Here’s how you can help them feel comfortable:

Share their story: Our staff love to hear about your loved one and sharing their background, interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes can help them provide more personalised care. You know your loved one the best, so you can also help staff by sharing any of their triggers or calming methods, ensuring they receive the most appropriate and compassionate support.

Create a familiar space: You can help your loved one feel more comfortable in their room by decorating it with personal items like photos and memorabilia. You can also bring in their favourite scents and music, as these familiar elements can provide a sense of security, helping to reduce anxiety and make the environment feel more like home.

Getting out and about: Regular outings to familiar locations can provide a sense of normalcy and joy, helping them stay connected to their roots and cherished memories.

The HillView Care approach

At HillView Care, our dementia care team consists of highly qualified, regularly trained, and genuinely passionate staff. They build strong bonds with residents and provide personalised, respectful care. By understanding each resident’s life experiences and interests, our team delivers the best possible support.

We know this is a challenging time for you and your loved one. Our care team is here to help you understand dementia and make the most of your time together. We provide 24/7 medical care, comfortable accommodation with plenty of space and a private ensuite, beautiful gardens to walk through, high security, daily housekeeping and specialised activities curated by our lifestyle team. 

Taking care of yourself

Moving a family member into aged care can also be challenging for you, especially if you were their primary carer. To make the progress easier: 

• Designate one or two family members to communicate with care staff.
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request explanations from our care team.
• Stay involved in your loved one’s care and stay in touch as much as possible.

Additional support

There are additional organisations where you can seek support, access resources and guidance to help you along this journey.

Dementia Australia: 1800 100 500
Dementia Support Australia: 1800 699 799

Want to learn more about HillView Care?

HillView Care has two Gold Coast aged care homes offering dementia care, one at Merrimac and another in Ashmore. Both homes offer safe and comfortable accommodation, along with personalised care from a dedicated team of professionals. All meals are tailored to meet the individual needs of your loved one, prepared and cooked on-site by our talented chefs. 

If you’d like to look at HillView Care for yourself, book a tour, we can’t wait to show you around.