Dementia Care NZ
What's new
We're focused on providing the best possible care for our residents.
We have pioneered the Best Friends approach and the Small Homes philosophy of care. These innovations have provided a smaller, more homely style of care for our dementia residents and well-trained staff tailoring their care to the needs, values and beliefs of each resident.
We are constantly improving the way we care for our residents.
Check out our latest news.
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Resident Long Term Care Plan
Resident Long Term Care Plan
A long-term care plan for residents in aged care is a structured process used to assess, document, and meet a resident’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. It ensures that each person receives personalised and consistent care based on their preferences, health conditions, and overall wellbeing. Developing a care plan is crucial to the care of a person.
Its importance:
• It promotes holistic, person-centred care. We think of the four dimensions of the Māori health model Te Whare Tapa Whā and consider physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and family/social wellbeing.
• With family involvement we learn more about the person being cared for and we hear family thoughts on care. Often family/EPOA are sharing the journey with their loved one.
• It helps staff provide safe and appropriate support.
• It guides day-to-day decisions and helps manage changing health needs.
• It ensures continuity of care across shifts and disciplines.
Family Involvement
Families are a valuable part of the care planning process. Your insights into your loved one’s preferences, routines, history, and values help us create a plan that truly reflects who they are.
We encourage you to:
• Participate in initial and regular care plan meetings.
• Share any changes or concerns you notice.
• Ask questions and provide feedback at any time. This also can give us an opportunity to support you too.
Our Role
The facility’s care team, including registered nurses, caregivers, allied health professionals, and diversional therapists and activity coordinators take responsibility for a care plan.
To begin with, we bring the person into our mind and our hearts and together we ask questions to help us work out what is required to meet the holistic needs of each resident.
This team is responsible for:
• Assessing your loved one’s needs.
• Developing and reviewing the care plan regularly or when needs change.
• Communicating with families and the resident about changes in care.
• Ensuring all staff follow the care plan to provide consistent support.
A Living Document
The care plan is not a one-time document – it is living and evolving. It changes as your loved one’s needs, preferences, or health status change. Regular reviews ensure it stays relevant and responsive.
By working together, families and the care team can ensure your loved one receives the most respectful, dignified, and compassionate care possible. Your voice matters and you are always welcome on this journey alongside your loved one. You are part of the team.
Dementia Care NZ Clinical Team -
Rhea takes on role as National Operational Support Leader
Rhea Abordonado has taken up a new role as the National Operational Support Leader around our homes.
This is a new role which includes travelling to our homes and working with the operations managers and coordinators to assist them in various aspects of their roles. Rhea will be helping them to grow and develop, looking for areas for improvement and facilitating learning from each other within the operations side of our homes.
The operations role is a varied one which is crucial to the running of our homes. It involves:
Looking after our staff teams
Overseeing our food service
Quality requirements
Overseeing the laundry service
Managing building maintenance and contractors
Marketing our home
Rhea knows our organisation inside out and has already been taking a leadership role around our homes in the wider Wellington area. It is great to have her expanding this role and helping our operations team to build on the great work that they do.
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Projects to help our residents feel comfortable and cared for
At all of our homes, we are always striving to improve the care and well-being of our residents. One of the ways we do this is through our clinical projects - important initiatives that help us provide the best possible care. These projects focus on a range of areas, from improving comfort and managing health conditions to enhancing the overall quality of life for our residents. Two areas we have been focusing on recently are tissue viability and pain management - both of which are important in helping our residents lead more comfortable and healthier lives.
Tissue Viability
Tissue viability simply refers to the health of the skin and underlying tissues. As we age, our skin becomes more fragile, making it more prone to wounds, ulcers, and pressure sores. These can be painful and difficult to heal. Our team is dedicated to preventing and managing these issues by using the latest treatments and strategies to keep the skin and tissues in the best condition possible. This helps to avoid complications and promotes quicker, healthier healing when issues arise.
Pain Management
Pain can be a common challenge for older adults especially in people with dementia, whether from chronic conditions, injuries, or daily discomfort. Managing pain effectively is a key part of our approach to care. We know how important it is for our residents to feel comfortable, so we’re working hard to provide personalised pain management plans. This includes everything from medication to physical therapy and alternative non-pharmacological treatments to ensure our residents are as pain-free as possible.
Ongoing Projects and Care Plans
Our clinical team is working together to create comprehensive care guides that focus on both tissue viability and pain management. We’ve been developing new strategies for:
Early detection of tissue damage to prevent further complications.
Pain management plans that are personalised to each patient’s needs, aiming for minimal discomfort during treatment.
Education for staff on the evidenced based techniques in wound care and pain relief, ensuring that everyone involved in resident care is equipped with the best resources.
Innovative dressings and treatments for wounds to promote faster healing.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: we want every resident to feel comfortable, cared for, and valued. By improving tissue health and managing pain, we are helping our residents live more fulfilling lives. We are committed to making their time here as comfortable and joyful as possible.
Urmee Dean, National Clinical and Quality Lead -
Pillars – Supporting positive futures for whānau of people serving a sentence
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou is a charity that actively supports the tamariki and whānau of people in prison or those serving a community-based sentence.
Every year we donate to Pillars and ask the businesses we work with if they are able to contribute.
These contributions make such a difference to the families of people in prison. Children of people in prison are 10 times more likely to go to prison without intervention. The Pillars programme helps to reverse this trend.
Pillars social workers provide advocacy, education, resources, and support. Some examples include housing, work and income and linking whānau into other supports such as counselling and rehabilitative programmes.
Once a family has received social work support, Mentoring Coordinators match the tamariki with a trusted adult from a community of volunteers. These volunteers are trained and supported by Mentoring Coordinators and are well prepared to provide the tamariki with experiences and opportunities outside of their horizons.
Pillars is also looking for mentors in Auckland and Christchurch. This is a hugely rewarding way to contribute to a young persons life and give back to the community.
If you would like further information on the Pillars programme, please visit their website.
Jim Haines, Director DCNZ
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Dementia Care NZ newsletter
Find out about our new dementia care home in Napier, our Clinical Manager training days and the response to the fire we had ay Millvale House Levin in our latest organisational newsletter.
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