Residential Care: Understanding Changing Needs

When Louise’s husband was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease, she knew the day would come. What she didn’t expect was how hard it would be to find a place that could actually take him.

For Susan, the challenge was different. Her Italian-born father rarely spoke about his wartime childhood. But in residential care, something as simple as a uniform could transport him back decades in an instant.

Moving into residential care is one of the toughest decisions for many people living with dementia and their families. When is the right time to move, how do you find an appropriate place, and how do you even start the conversation?

Co-hosts Jim and Hamish talk with Louise and Susan about the reality of transitioning into residential care, the hard parts, the unexpected ones, and the small, peaceful moments that made it worthwhile.

  

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Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish Macdonald. 

  

ABOUT THE GUESTS 

Former carer Louise’s husband Craig was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease at 46. Navigating a system not designed for younger people, Louise founded the Think Again campaign and now raises awareness while sharing her experience supporting Craig through care.

Susan cared for her father Tony, a gentle and hardworking man who experienced moments of great distress as his dementia progressed. Drawing on her experience navigating residential care, she now advocates for greater awareness, understanding and more personalised support for people living with dementia.

 

NEED SUPPORT?  

Contact the National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - funded by the Australian Government.

 

SERVICES & RESOURCES  

Find links, services and information from this episode → https://www.dementia.org.au/episode-residential-care

 

EPISODE CREDITS 

Produced by Liam Riordan | Sound design by Slade Gibson | Executive producers: Sarah Dabro and Kellie Riordan | Production manager: Ann Chesterman

 

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Dementia Australia and Deadset Studios acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative.