By Margaret Maccoll
Rhana Morton of Noosa Heads has just put her husband on the waiting list for a place at Noosa Care’s dementia unit but is uncertain when one may become available.
Noosa Care has 27 people on the waiting list for its dementia unit and 53 on its waiting list for supported care, making a total of 80 across its aged care accommodation places of Carramar at Tewantin and Kabara in Cooroy.
The not for profit aged care provider is in the planning stages of expansion with an aim to enlarge its dementia unit by 48 beds.
“The reason to expand is to meet the needs of the community,” spokeswoman Danah Wood said.
“Most of the time they don’t come in here until they’re ready. It’s 24-hour care, it’s high needs care.
“The memory unit is such a lovely unit. There’s a men’s shed, herb garden, chickens and diversional therapy working with art, craft and cooking. There are lots of outings. Whatever they want to do, we foster that. There’s no set itinerary. If they’re up at 2am and want to bake cookies there’s a staff member ready to cook cookies.”
Rhana’s husband had run an architectural practice for 60 years before he was diagnosed with alzheimers in 2011.
His doctor said he probably had the illness for several years prior.
“Looking back now there were signs,” Rhana said.
“Just odd things that didn’t sit well with him as a person. His vocabulary lessened, his comprehension lessened.”
Rhana and her daughter Samm want their husband and father at home for as long as possible but have reached a point where he needs more care than they are capable of.
He is a very social, outgoing man with a love of music, having played clarinet in a jazz band.
They worry about his happiness.
Rhana and Samm have visited several aged care providers. They like the feel of Noosa Care and its closeness to their home. It has the recommendation of carers they know.
Danah said research showed there were 400,000 people living with dementia in Australia and by 2025 there will be an expected half a million.
With this prediction of a “wave of dementia” Noosa Care wants to act now to expand within the constraints of council requirements, under the direction of the local board that governs it and being responsive to the community.
Danah said they hope with approval to have completed construction by the end of 2018 and have residents moving in in 2019.
