Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Accentuating the positive
person-centred care in a domestic scale environment

The terms of reference require the Royal Commission to inquire into how to ensure that aged care services are person-centred including through allowing people to exercise greater choice, control and independence in relation to their care and improving engagement with families and carers on care related matters.

To that end, evidence was heard from some providers where person-centred, and relationship-based, care is practised. The positive, caring attitudes shown by this group of managers gives cause for some optimism about the future of aged care in Australia.

Brightwater Care Group
Group Homes Australia
Glenview Community Services
Whiddon Group
Wintringham

Brightwater Care Group
750 beds 2400 staff
based in Perth
Jennifer Lawrence CEO
former medical scientist

Smaller group home model, homes vary in size from 5 to 20 bedrooms.
Model of care based on understanding the person and having really good staff who understand their responsibilities because these are people’s homes.

 

 

Group Homes Australia
based in Sydney
founder and co-CEO
Tamar Krebs RN

Operate traditional homes in traditional suburbs, 6 to 10 residents in a house. Is an approved provider of home care but not residential care;
residents use their home care packages. Philosophy: deep respect and engagement with life for every resident. Residents get involved in all aspects of running the home. Can get 200 applicants for one carer position.

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

Glenview Community
Services
based in Tasmania
Lucille O’Flaherty CEO

Within a 100 bed facility there are 6 houses with 10 to 14 residents per house.
“Recruits for kindness and trains for excellence”. All staff have dementia training. On average 500 people apply for one personal care role but there is a shortage of RNs.

 

 

 

 

See Royal Commission Transcript: 1571–1607.

 

 

Whiddon Group
1600 residents 200 HCPs
across Sydney, regional NSW and SE Qld
Chris Marmarelis CEO

The MyLife care model puts individual at its heart, extends beyond clinical task focus to well-being, enablement and social connections. Smaller groups of staff care for smaller groups of residents. Outcomes include higher levels of physical function, lower levels of anxiety and depression, lower staff turnover and less handover stress.

The Whiddon Group Grafton, NSW

 

 

 

Wintringham
Melbourne suburbs
Bryan Lipmann CEO

For the homeless or those at risk of homelessness. “People should feel they are working in someone’s home and people should not feel they are living where someone works….. It is just treating people how you would like your parent or grandparent to be treated”. Reward for staff loyalty: cash grant after 5 years which they have to spend on themselves: 152 staff with more than 10 years’ service and 47 staff with more than 15 years’ service.

Eunice Seddon Home Wintringham
Dandenong, Victoria

 

See Royal Commission, Transcript: 2427-2439 and 2452-2471.