Dementia Care Services

Improving quality of life for people living with dementia.

Southern Cross Care (WA) provides a range of services catering for different care needs including temporary respite care, in-home support and high-level care in residential aged care homes. 

Our goal is to empower people living with dementia to feel connected and engaged in their life.

Our staff consider and appreciate our residents as members of the community considering their personality, learning preferences, and previous life experiences.  Through improving awareness, knowledge, skill and support for our residents and clients, we develop a truly personalised and holistic behaviour support plan that is based on best practice care principles outlined by Dementia Australia. 

Through improving awareness, knowledge, skill and support for our residents and clients, we develop a truly personalised and holistic behaviour support plan that is based on best practice care principles outlined by Dementia Australia. 

Residential Aged Care

The decision to transition a loved one living with dementia into a residential care home can be emotionally overwhelming and challenging. But being prepared and understanding the support options available can make the process a little easier. 

At SCC (WA) we aim to reduce or stabilise symptoms of all levels of dementia through specialist care planning including medication monitoring, exercise, diet and sensory based activities to help residents live their best lives.

When residents first move into one of our homes, we encourage their families to complete a personal profile to help us understand more about the activities their loved ones enjoyed outside of residential care, so that our staff can support these activities wherever possible. 

Our purpose-built homes offer a supportive environment to allow residents to live each day to the fullest. We also provide a tailored menu for residents who may be active and like to eat on the go, with a choice of nourishing finger foods and snacks.

Whilst most people living with dementia can successfully live their best life in an aged care home environment, if the person is living with a severe dementia diagnosis it may be necessary to consider access to a safe, respectful home-like memory support unit located within many of our aged care homes.  

Memory support units have improved accessibility, safe and respectful access to outside spaces and provide opportunities for connection through social engagement. These areas within our homes are best suited to people who may have a severe dementia diagnosis. Upon admission our staff will ensure they have received all relevant medical history as well as the most recent Aged Care Assessment. We also encourage residents to stay connected with their existing medical practitioners. 

High Dependency Units (HDU)

Our high dependency units based at Margaret Hubert House and Frank Prendergast House provide specialist, safe and respectful support in circumstances where residential aged care services or residential care memory support units are not suitable to meet an elderly resident’s care needs. This is generally due to diagnosis of long term, persistent mental illness and includes the onset of dementia or other health conditions that affect the person’s independence.  

Our HDU’s are supported under the guidance of the Mental Health Commission to ensure safe, dignified care.  

Our specialist teams aim to provide residents with a sense of possibility, assisting them to manage their symptoms including feelings of loneliness and isolation.  The goal for each resident is to achieve a sense of wellbeing and recovery that will support them to transition to a general residential aged care home environment.

Residential Respite Care

Respite care can provide benefits for both the individual and their family/carer. We offer two types of respite: residential respite and home care funded respite. Residential respite is accessed in our residential aged care homes for a minimum of two weeks while home care funded respite is supported through respite cottages and day centres.

Residential respite is an opportunity for individuals living with dementia to socialise and engage in meaningful activities, helping them to overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness. For families and carers, it provides an opportunity to focus on their own personal wellbeing. Carers can access up to 63 days of residential aged care respite each year. An ACAT assessment is required to access this service.

Residents accessing residential aged care will be able to attend all the activities, dining experiences and 24/7 clinical support provided to permanent residential aged care residents.

Individuals and their families can also access additional dementia support through Dementia Australia or Alzheimers Australia.  There are family and carer support groups regularly available in the Perth metro area that can help carers to understand how to best communicate with their loved ones and share their experiences with other families.

Dementia Support in the Community

Carers can access temporary respite care for their loved one by attending one of our community-based respite centres.  These homes offer day services as well as short stays overnight.  On their first visit the person living with dementia will be provided a personalised plan. A qualified support person who can see things from the client’s point of view, will help them to express emotions through words and actions, as well as identifying new skills and responsibilities to encourage feelings of accomplishment.

Their personalised behaviour support plan is based on best practice care by Dementia Support Australia will be shared with their carer or family so that they can better manage strategies to recreate personal connections and the quality relationships that we all seek.

Families and carers may also wish to explore carer support in their home. In-home respite is a day service and usually involves a support worker coming to the individual’s home. They may also take the client for an outing for a few hours while your carer has a break.

Both of these respite options are available through Government funded Home Care Packages.

For information about dementia support through Centre based respite and in-home respite click below.

View Eligibility and Application Process

The Costs of Dementia Care

Fees and payment for specialist dementia care in a residential aged care setting is the same as in mainstream residential care.

Learn More

We’re here to help.

Please get in touch if you’d like to talk about our services or enquire about available properties.

Contact Us