We found that that makes all the difference between someone slamming the door and saying go away, compared to someone saying, “Oh, come right in. Let’s hear more about what you have to offer.”’ For one resident referred to Swinburne’s clinic, opening that door to counselling had a life-changing impact. Dr Bhar remembers the client had been diagnosed with dementia and started feeling distressed when her family stopped visiting.
‘The counsellor spoke to the aged care staff about the situation, and they realised that her family were visiting every day, but her short-term memory had deteriorated to the point where she couldn’t remember,’ he explains.
‘So, the counsellor and the aged care staff worked hand in hand with the family to come up with a treatment plan that could help.’
After learning of the residents’ needs, the counsellor helped organise a whiteboard for the room, giving her family a place to leave notes every time they visited and acting as a special reminder of their time together. Regular sessions were also put in place to ensure the former artist could spend time crafting greeting cards that were sure to receive replies in the mail.
Countless stories like these remind Dr Bhar of the clinic’s importance. And now, thanks to support from the Arcare Family Foundation, that much-needed quality of care is being brought onto a national stage.
Dr Sunil Bhar Professor, Clinical Psychology
With funding generously donated by the Foundation, the wellbeing clinic was able to pilot telehealth psychology services for aged care residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. That pilot is now being extended across Australia for three years.
‘This is something that could easily be normalised and replicated across the country. That’s what’s exciting,’ says a representative from the Arcare Family Foundation.
‘We’d like to see the government supporting it as a national programme that is part of policy for aged care so that residents can gain the counselling they need to see improved mental health.’
With the support of the Arcare Family Foundation, the Swinburne Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults is able to provide critical counselling services while training the next generation of mental health professionals in the aged care sector. It’s a win-win for everyone’s future
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