19/12/2025
AccessPlus has not yet ventured into Aged Care - but I would like to share this as it resonates with me with the care and support I provide for my mum who has Dementia.
I’m hoping it might reach just one person that it may help them and encourage them.
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Supporting a person living with dementia requires careful planning, consistency and a strong understanding of how routine and structure impact wellbeing.
Routine is essential. Predictable daily structure helps reduce confusion, distress and anxiety, and provides a sense of safety and familiarity. When routine is consistent, people living with dementia are better able to engage, function and feel secure.
Formal support plays a critical role. Regular, planned support times with trained carers allow for assistance with daily routines, self-care and household tasks in a calm and respectful way. This supports dignity, independence and continuity of care, while also reducing the risk of overwhelm and decline.
Informal support from family and friends is equally important but it works best when it complements, rather than replaces, formal support. Spreading informal social contact across the week and weekends, outside of scheduled support times, helps maintain connection and reduces feelings of loneliness without disrupting established routines.
When formal support provides structure and consistency, and informal support is thoughtfully spaced around it, the person living with dementia benefits from both stability and meaningful social connection. This balance is key to emotional wellbeing and long-term sustainability of care.
Decisions around dementia care are often questioned, but they are not made lightly. They are based on evidence-informed practice, professional guidance, and a deep understanding of the individual’s needs, capacity and wellbeing.
For anyone supporting a person living with dementia, organisations such as Dementia Australia provide invaluable education, guidance and support. Accessing professional advice helps families make informed decisions and advocate effectively.
Dementia care is not about doing everything at once, it is about thoughtful coordination, consistency and compassion, delivered through both formal and informal supports working together.
Check out Dementia Australia - their support is amazing.
https://www.facebook.com/DementiaAustralia/
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 433,300 Australians living with dementia and the more than 1.7 million people involved in their care.
National Dementia Helpline - 1800 100 500
