Better Practice in aged care - improving quality of respite care for older Australians

The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd is holding the first of its 2006 national series of Better Practice events to share information with nursing homes to help improve the quality of care they provide to older Australians.

Among the featured speakers at the event are Dennis Chamberlain, General Manager, and Andrew Hook, Clinical Nurse Manager, of Alwyndor Aged Care, City of Holdfast Bay.

Alwyndor Aged Care received a Better Practice in Aged Care Award from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, for the development of its respite facility.

The building was designed based on feedback from respite and permanent residents, and was appropriately separated from permanent residents to avoid disruption to their lives, yet offered the same services.

The respite centre, which became operational in March 2005, is also designed to allow respite residents to maintain community links whilst giving their carers a break.

Dennis Chamberlain and Andrew Hook will present to the event the research involved in the project, how the new building met the needs of both respite and permanent residents and the lessons learned in the process.

Better Practice starts in Adelaide on 25 and 26 May.

Better Practice is both a celebration of excellence in aged care, and practical advice on implementing programs that contribute to an improvement in the quality of care provided to residents.

Around 300 delegates from the aged care industry in South Australia, the Northern Territory and north-west WA will attend the event, to hear speakers talking about today’s issues in aged care homes.

For further information or to arrange and interview, media should contact Lisa Smith, Corporate Affairs Officer, on 02 8831 1016 or 0415 217 051.

For further information about Better Practice, visit www.accreditation.org.au, or call (02) 8831 1028.

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Chris Falvey, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, (02) 8831 1033, 0438 446 466
Lisa Smith, Corporate Affairs Officer, (02) 8831 1016, 0415 217 051

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