Entrusting Care The elements of a successful respite program An Australian Government Initiative

Myrtle Cottage Day Respite Service 3.5 year demonstration project funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (Department of Health and Ageing) Background to this project Aims and Methodology Findings Overview

Aim We sought to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of Myrtle Cottage on the lives of the carers and the people with dementia, from the perspectives of the carers. Then utilise this knowledge to inform practice Aim

Key Objectives Understand what it is like for carers to use Myrtle Cottage services Gain insight into the impact of Myrtle cottage on the lives of the carers and the people with dementia Understand the influence, if any, of Myrtle Cottage being co-located on a residential site Key Objectives

Understand from the perspectives of the carers attributes of Myrtle Cottage that they value and ones they would like changed Gather information from the carers about potential improvements to Myrtle Cottage that could either enhance the care recipients experience, or improve their experience of using Myrtle Cottage Key Objectives

Methodology Aim: Sought to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of Myrtle Cottage on the lives of the carers and the people with dementia, from the perspectives of the carers Aim: Sought to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of Myrtle Cottage on the lives of the carers and the people with dementia, from the perspectives of the carers A semi-structured focus group with eight carers Three one-on-one, semi-structured face to face interviews Two telephone interviews Three one-on-one, semi-structured face to face interviews Two telephone interviews Findings Purposeful sampling Thematic analysis Methodology

Findings “ One thing that I would say is very important is that I have a feeling of trust, I trust the staff because I wouldn’t leave him if I didn’t feel confident.” “ One thing that I would say is very important is that I have a feeling of trust, I trust the staff because I wouldn’t leave him if I didn’t feel confident.” Findings

“It is a great relief, I know that she’s fed there and she’s well looked after there and they’ll bring her home, and if there’s any problem they’ll call and we have constant contact with them” Findings

“Gives me peace of mind... I’ll know while he’s there that he’s quite safe” Findings

Overview Entrusting Care Staffing Appropriate Programming Supportive Physical and Emotional Environment Overview

Findings Staff’s skills, knowledge and understanding Staff’s approach to their work Staffing Findings

Staff’s skills, knowledge & understanding “They [the staff] know the moods and mentality of whichever patient it is that’s over there and they suss out things that they can cope with, the expression of work that they can do and teach them how to do it has been absolutely amazing, it truly has.” Staff’s skills, knowledge & understanding

“The way they speak to the clients and the way they handle them I have seen some that are mobile and would like to walk out when the gates open and just things like that,... I think they’re very, very good.” Staff’s skills, knowledge & understanding

“We’re not really aware of the activities they do but we leave it in the very professional hands of **** and the other carers, but whatever they’re doing as far as we’re concerned with dad, it’s working.” Staff’s skills, knowledge & understanding

Staff’s approach to their work “ You can tell that the staff love their job and that just flows onto the people they care for.” “ I think the reason we still go there is because the carers are so wonderful. ****, she was just born for that role, she’s an amazing woman and the carers, all of them are just incredible, I can’t sing their praises enough.” Staff’s approach to their work

“**** is always pleasant, lovely on the phone and any of her girls that I’ve spoken to have always been the same, I’ve never had any, I’ve never even felt anyone is fobbing me off, always lovely.” Staff’s approach to their work

Appropriate programming “an adult care centre... they’re being looked after, fed and somebody switches on the television and that’s probably it” to “the brilliant part about Myrtle Cottage, they’re not just dumped there, they do things” “There’s no pressure to participate and you’re not felt like a drongo if you don’t participate, it’s very, very good” Appropriate Programming

Appropriate programming “Encouraging activities that don’t set them up for failure” “It gives me peace of mind to know that he’s socialising and interacting with others” Appropriate Programming

Findings Physical environment Emotional environment Myrtle cottage environment Findings

Supportive physical environment “He seems very happy at Myrtle Cottage, if he could he’d probably stay there all the time. He brightens up considerably, now that’s a good recommendation for you, as soon as he hits the door, he goes through, he brightens up and he talks, he sings and he helps the other people and he can’t find his way around his own home, but he can go there and help them.” Supportive physical environment

Supportive emotional environment “[giving] love and care, they truly do” and “emotionally... accept[ing] them as they are now” Supportive emotional environment

“ They do their job, they’re just so lovely, they replace the love and the care that I think us as the main, the closest relatives have sometimes, we don’t have the time and they give love and affection and interest and enthusiasm that we don’t, we’re so drained that we’re unable to give.” Supportive emotional environment

“** wants to go, he’d go everyday I think”

Summary “*** wants to go, he’d go everyday I think” Summary