Mirinjani Village, ACT

Resident lifestyle

Formal and informal feedback received from residents indicated the desire to live in a home rather than a clinical environment with a medical model of care. A home based on freedom, spontaneity and more choices, where one's sense of control and individuality is enhanced and respected.

Based on the residents' feedback and desires, the team therefore decided to critically look at everything they did. The goal was to determine if greater balance could be achieved between the resident's chosen lifestyle and the meeting of regulatory, clinical and paperwork matters which were also recognised as important.

Resident lifestyle at Mirinjani has been greatly enhanced through the introduction of a 'culture change revolution', including the Eden Alternative philosophy of care. This revolution that was initiated by the Mirinjani team was innovative in that its purpose was to challenge and change. It promoted creativity in that it encouraged both staff and residents to break free from previously accepted norms to think and dream of new ways to do things.

Training on culture change and the Eden Alternative principle was organised for all staff, regardless of role, based on eradicating the three plagues of ageing - loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

Residents were asked to identify those things that were important to their life. Based on this information, greater individualised and meaningful activities and events occurred each day. For example, walking the dog, playing cards or planting a garden.

Residents and staff surveys provided very positive feedback concerning residents' lifestyle at Mirinjani. In particular, as a result of the animals introduced into the village as part of the culture change, behavioural issues around the time of sun-downing for dementia residents have been improved, not to mention the fulfilment of residents' individual needs and desires.

According to staff surveys, job satisfaction rates have soared from a low 62% in 2001 to a high of 85% in 2006. Focus for staff has shifted from task-oriented to person centred.

Residents and staff are diverse and, with every new admission and new staff member, we obtain a new person with their own set of needs, desires, abilities and contribution to make to our communities.

As a result of the introduction of smaller communities within our facilities there has been a lower turnover of care staff and stronger bonds and meaningful relationships have developed between staff and residents, and overall there is a better understanding of residents' lifestyle needs.

These changes in residents' lifestyle can adapt to any generation, whether it be the current age group who have survived depression and war or the baby boomers, each requiring and desiring vastly different lifestyles.

The effectiveness of the residents' lifestyles is continuously monitored and measured; it drives our continuous quality improvement system. It is an ever-changing process, evolving with time.

Uniting Care Ageing Mirinjani Village remains committed to excellence in aged care and most particularly resident lifestyle.