Dementia Care

Frequently asked questions

• Can anyone diagnosed with dementia, live in an Estia Health home?

  People living with dementia can continue to live at home with ongoing care and support from family members or paid carers. People often come to us as their dementia is progressing, along with a number of other conditions, making it harder to be cared for at home. At Estia Health, we can support people at any stage, if they have been assessed by an ACAT team to require and be eligible to receive government-funded residential aged care.

• Will I have access to a specialist neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist?

  Often a diagnosis of dementia will take some time and sometimes involve a series of physical and neurological examinations to exclude other illnesses or conditions. An example is blood and urine tests to ensure the underlying cause isn’t an ongoing urine infection, dehydration, or vitamin deficiency, all of which can cause confusion and memory loss.

  Your GP is able to make a diagnosis, but it’s likely they will refer you to a neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist for ongoing tests that assess cognitive abilities, including memory, language and concentration. When moving into one of our homes, we will discuss your past medical history and requirements and work in partnership with your GP and any other specialists to provide you with the best care and support possible. This will need regular review at meetings, adapted as conditions progress.

• Why are ‘sensory’ activities important in dementia care?

  As dementia advances and a person loses more cognitive and physical ability, their senses of touch, taste and smell can still remain, therefore there are many activities that can have positive benefits for residents', even when living with advanced dementia. In our Estia Health homes, our teams continue to look at ways to enrich residents lives, at whatever stage of their journey, with pampering, aromatherapy and massage, along with music, as examples of sensory activities they will deliver.

  Whether it’s visiting pets, using therapy aids such as robotic animals, painting, massage, art and craft or music as we all know as individuals, we all get our joy, comfort and purpose from different sources, which is why we work closely with you and your family to understand how to provide the best support.

• Which resources can I access for help?

  There are a number of resources available to support people living with dementia and their carers. Dementia Australia is one of Australia’s leading and provide the following services:

  • Information about dementia
  • The National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500
  • Support groups for people living with dementia and their carers
  • Education and other services

• Are there different stages to dementia?

  Every person’s experience will be different and not every person will go through every stage, but it can be helpful to categorise dementia into three progressive stages:
  • Early dementia
  • Moderate dementia
  • Advanced dementia

  Read more about the different stages of dementia. 

  When you visit one of our homes to take a tour, you can speak to our care team to discuss your diagnosis, any concerns and understand the available care.

• Can dementia be treated with medication?

  There is sadly no cure for dementia, but medication can be used to alleviate symptoms or for treatment of other underlying diseases. A resident’s GP or specialist will advise our team in consultation with a resident and family members.

• When should someone with dementia go into an aged care home?

  Dementia is progressive, meaning a person living with dementia will require more care and support as time goes on. As a person’s condition declines, their needs increase and you may not be able to fully meet these needs despite your best efforts.

  A person with dementia will need more care and support as their condition progresses, and there may come a time when they will need to move into residential care. There will never be a perfect time, but a person needs 24-hour supervision and support to stay safe and to ensure good quality of life, then it may be the time for them to move into residential care.

• Can someone living with dementia access respite care?

  Respite care is important in ensuring the emotional and physical wellbeing of a person caring for someone living with dementia. Although as a carer you may be concerned about the impact respite care will have on the person you are providing care for, you will find that respite care is also helpful for them.

  While a person living with dementia may initially be anxious about respite care, positivity and forward planning can assist with a smooth transition and a positive experience.