Aged Care Plus Awarded Two Better Practice Awards

The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus has been awarded two Better Practice Awards at the 2017 Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Better Practice Conference, celebrating their revolutionary dementia care philosophy and unique hospitality program.

One Better Practice Award acknowledged their dementia care philosophy, Making Moments Matter, based on the internationally-awarded Butterfly Household Model of Care developed, pioneered and operated by Dementia Care Matters. Aged Care Plus was selected as one of two aged care providers in Australia to pilot the Butterfly Household Model of Care in July 2016, which was launched at Mountain View Aged Care Plus Centre in Narrabundah, ACT and The Cairns Aged Care Plus Centre at Chapel Hill, QLD. The model has seen significant success in improving the quality of life, health and wellbeing for residents living with dementia. This model focuses on achieving culture change in aged care homes through its philosophy of 'Feelings Matter Most'.

The model values emotional intelligence, inspiring leadership, domestic household living and the core belief that everyone living with dementia can be reached as a whole person. Through the pilot of this model, Aged Care Plus has seen a reduction in expressive behaviours, falls and a decrease in the number of residents who require psychotropic medication.

Aged Care Plus Executive Manager for Care Services, Governance and International Relations, Peter Bewert, says the Better Practice Award is testament to the success of this model.

"This model has seen the benefits emotional connectivity can have on the physical, psychological and social wellness of residents living with dementia. In essence, we have been able to quantify that love, peace, joy and hope are key to quality of life and this is achieved through this model of care," Peter said.

Aged Care Plus achieved a second Better Practice Award for their unique hospitality program, Food Glorious Food. The foundation of this program is built on high energy, high protein foods, and promotes a home-like mealtime experience. Food Glorious Food has seen significant success in improving residents' overall health, Body Mass Index (BMI) and enjoyment of the mealtime experience.

Aged Care Plus' Quality Consultant for Hospitality, Lainie Lynch, has been instrumental in improving outcomes for residents through this program and expresses the importance of enhancing the mealtime experience for older Australians.

"It is essential we provide meals that are home-like, tasty and suitable for the generation we are feeding. I feel this connection is missing in many aged care food models," Lainie said.

This achievement builds on Aged Care Plus' previous success, bringing their Better Practice Award tally to six since 2014. Chief Executive Officer, Sharon Callister said: "We are honoured to be recognised by the Aged Care Quality Agency for our commitment to providing the highest quality of care to older Australians."

"We will continue to evolve and innovate for the benefit of older Australians, and we look forward to sharing the success of our revolutionary models of care in the years to come," Sharon said.