3Bridges to launch innovative respite program
The Mindful Dementia Care program is a new initiative supporting older people with dementia and their carers.
Sydney-based community aged care provider 3Bridges is showcasing a promising new evidence-based program supporting individuals living with dementia and their carers to remain at home.
The Mindful Dementia Care program involves a range of activities planned with clients and carers with a mix of physical, social, artistic, cognitive and therapeutic sessions.
The free five-day-a-week program began operating at 3Bridges Ashfield in October 2023 and will be formally launched at an event onsite this month.
The early findings from the evaluation show the program promotes dignity, respect, choice and participation for people with dementia and provides their carers the support they need to continue the things they enjoy and keep their loved one at home, said Dr Beatriz Cardona, a senior research fellow at 3Bridges and an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University.
“We found high scores in the domains of pleasure, sustained social normalcy and interest, and low scores in negative affect and sadness,” Dr Cardona told Community Care Review.
Dr Cardona will discuss the evidence-based approach and evaluation findings at the launch’s information and networking event.
She will be joined by Dr Helena Popovic, a leading authority on improving brain function, aged care and ageing research Professor Michael Fine from Macquarie University’s School of Social Sciences, and Amal Madani – general manager of aged care, disability and allied Health at 3Bridges.
The Mindful Dementia Care launch is taking place on 26 March from 10.00 – 2:00pm at 320 Liverpool Road, Ashfield. Email clientconnections@3bridges.org.au for more information.
Follow Community Care Review on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and sign up to our newsletter.