Alwyndor, SA
Purpose – Designed Residential Respite Model
Alwyndor’s board of management commissioned an ‘ideas report’ to provide direction to the future development of the service, and this identified a common need by residents, community clients and staff for a respite service. The home worked with the Commonwealth Carers’ Respite Centre to develop a pilot respite model which took place over a 10 month period, utilising beds in the existing low-care unit. The pilot provided useful learning to staff and management, and the evaluation led to a submission being made to the Department of Health and Ageing for funding for a respite centre.
An 11 place respite centre was built, using the feedback gained during the pilot. Particular features were that the building was designed not to look institutional, it had off-street access, and was separate but integrated with the existing service to enable respite clients access to services and programs within the home. This met the needs of clients who often don’t like to have respite in a home designed for permanent residents, and the needs of residents who can sometimes resent the interruption caused by respite clients to their everyday lives.
The respite centre, which became operational in May 2005, is also designed to avoid de-skilling of clients and allows them to maintain community links whilst giving their carers a break.
Alwyndor prides itself in this innovative approach to respite care, which is continually evolving and developing as time passes, and which uses the skills of a multi-disciplinary team to promote quality care for clients.
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