Dementia Australia acknowledged the hundreds of thousands of people working in the Aged Care Industry on Aged Care Employee Day on August 7.
Dementia Australia CEO, Maree McCabe, said the day was an opportunity to acknowledge, honour and celebrate aged care employees.
“In 2021, there are almost half a million Australians living with dementia, with many supported by aged care employees in residential care and in their homes through community care.
“We recognise the immense contribution of aged care employees to people living with dementia, their families and carers and the important role they play in their lives.
“During the COVID-19 crisis we have seen aged care workers go above and beyond to support people in their care, one example of this is in our Communities of Practice sessions where aged care workers share ideas, information, resources and experiences to support each other in their roles,” McCabe said.
Communities of Practice is one of a number of programs and initiatives the Dementia Australia Centre for Dementia Learning facilitates to support aged care employees in the vital support work they do.
Dementia Australia advocate, Jason van Genderen, thanked the aged care employees who go above and beyond looking after his mum, Oma, the star of Oma’s Applesauce.
The Forresters Beach Local said Oma’s cat Hailey was her constant companion, when she moved into her care community, she really missed those passive comfort moments a family pet gives.
“Her care workers Deanna and Michelle have been so supportive in every way, it’s been a great comfort to our family to know that Oma’s happiness is as important to them as it is to us.
“When they suggested Hailey could come visit Oma, Michelle always made time to integrate Hailey’s visit into Oma’s day, then when Deanna suggested adopting Hailey, that was the icing on the cake.
“For them to be such strong advocates for residents’ happiness is just a blessing,” van Genderen said.
McCabe said aged care employees are on the frontline every day working to provide care for Australians, including those living with dementia.
“On Aged Care Employee Day, and every day, we thank and appreciate aged care staff for their professionalism, compassion, empathy, dignity and the care they provide,” McCabe said.
Aged Care Employee Day was initiated by aged care provider Whiddon in 2018 and is now led and coordinated by Leading Age Services Australia.
The theme for 2021 was thanks for caring.
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated half a million Australians living with Dementia, and the almost 1.6 million people involved in their care.
They advocate for positive change and support vital research and support people impacted by Dementia.
On the Coast there is a higher-than-average concentration of people over 65, with 18.2 per cent of the population being 65 or older, well over the national average of 14.1 per cent.
As a result, the Coast has one of the largest number of people living with Dementia in NSW.
Community Care Services, Central Coast estimates that there are approximately 5,000 people on the Coast living with Dementia and are expecting this number to climb to 14,500 people by 2050.
Harry Mulholland