Make the Home Safer Without Making It Feel Like a Hospital

Keep Walking Areas Clear

Ensure the floor is clear of stray rugs and clutter. Remove trailing electrical cords. The pathway between the bedroom, living areas and the bathroom should also be clear.

Good lighting in bedrooms and living spaces is key, especially during night hours. Allow enough space to navigate around for walking frames.

Make the Bathroom Safer and Easier to Use

Balance, memory, and confidence can shift over time. This can lead to more difficulty when using the bathroom.

Grab rails in the bathroom, non-slip surfaces, a shower chair and improved lighting could all assist. An Occupational Therapy assessment would provide recommendations based on individual circumstances.

Plan for Brisbane’s Heat

The oppressive heat that often descends upon Brisbane is a particular challenge for people with dementia, adding another layer to the care of your loved one.

They cannot be assumed to realise when they're too hot or need to take a drink.

Keep drinks accessible and easily visible at various points in the house. Let cool rooms breathe.

If managing heat or fluid intake requires specific attention, these needs should be addressed in the home care plan.

Keep the Kitchen Safe and Practical

There can be dangers when someone forgets food is on the hob, leaves taps on or no longer understands how appliances are supposed to operate.

However, this does not mean the person no longer cooks.

Washing vegetables or helping to put ingredients into the mixing bowl are examples of ways a person who cannot cook a full meal might still participate.

Keep Familiar Routines in Place

Predictability in familiar surroundings can be a comfort when both short and long-term memory starts to weaken.

Trying to ensure commonly used items are placed where the person would expect to find them will assist.

Simple labels can also be used. Personal artefacts can provide the people with a connection to a known environment.

Choose Support Staff Carefully

It is not just the modifications within the home, but the people working within it, too, that are significant.

If you have many unfamiliar people coming and going from the home, those requiring care may feel unsettled. They may have to repeatedly remember who they are and why they are here.

Dementia Care Should Reflect the Person

Good home dementia care always supports people according to their specific needs, not just their diagnosis.

A support worker could offer Personal Care in the mornings. They could spend the afternoon assisting with social interaction and hobbies.

Such support will adapt and shift as circumstances of life change. It can also change as the physical or cognitive ability of the individual changes.

Make Communication Easier

Finding words can become more difficult as dementia progresses. This can lead to repetition or failure to elaborate thoughts.

If English is not the person’s primary or preferred language, ensure that the care provider is made aware of this.

Personal Care Can Become More Difficult

Trying to argue against the expressed wishes, particularly regarding bathing at any hour, may prove more harmful.

Help her understand your request in ways she can access or relate to. It’s an area she was very used to managing herself. It can represent a loss of Independence.

Such changes don’t have to mean someone with dementia loses their right to shower whenever they want.

Some people prefer doing this at certain times. Giving them choices can offer a better solution without involving an argument.

“Would you like to shower now or after the post arrives?”

Repeated Questions Can Take a Toll on Families

Many families find that repeated questioning is the most trying aspect of caring for a loved one with dementia.

“What time shall we leave?”

“After lunch.”

“What time shall we leave?”

“After lunch again.”

Five minutes later, the very same question is posed yet again!

Focus on gently reassuring and redirecting with the use of a simple diary on the kitchen counter or fridge if suitable.

Help Your Loved One Settle at Night

It can often be challenging to help settle the person with dementia around evenings and during the afternoon turn into night.

Inappropriate wandering, distress and even restlessness are commonly experienced by care recipients. Families affectionately call this the ‘sundowning phase’.

Regular routines established will help them relax.

Lowered lighting levels as dusk approaches can help signal that the time for bed is getting nearer. Less clutter can also help.

Speak to their GP or care team if their behaviour has a sudden change or is significantly different to what is considered normal behaviour for them.

While sudden change must be considered as a possible symptom of dementia, it should not automatically be assumed that it is.

Support Someone at Risk of Wandering

One major concern for families wanting to keep their relatives at home is wandering.

They may leave the house because, in their mind, they have to go to work, pick up their child or return to another home.

Finding a pattern to the wandering is important.

When do they appear to leave? Where are they going? What happens just before they set off?

Families may need to consider keeping passageways clean and well lit.

A diagram that has simple labels would point out different rooms.

Doors may be secured and keys locked away. Alarm systems or monitoring systems could be placed in or near the doors to signal if someone is trying to get out of the house.

The support services that are arranged at home must be appropriate to the patient. They must also respect the person’s dignity at all times.

If wandering becomes frequent or serious, call and review the care provided.

Respond to Distress With Reassurance

Attempts to correct their mistakes too much make dementia symptoms worse.

Reassurance can be a much better approach.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you can do exactly what they are saying, and that is okay. But they know that their feelings are being acknowledged.

Calm reassurance can help. It helps someone feel safe and understood.

If extreme distress is caused, care must be sought.

Consult a GP or specialist support team or Home Care Provider. Issues can then be managed with the guidance of care professionals.

What Support at Home Can Include

The Support at Home program is changing.

This type of help enables the individual with dementia to stay in their own home with a bit more confidence and reduce some of the burden for the family carer.

To be eligible for this support service, a referral needs to be made via My Aged Care. This consultation helps to determine support services that are available.

These may consist of Personal Care, Clinical care/nursing, Allied Health care like an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, and household jobs.

Household jobs may include helping to cook, doing tasks that contribute to caring for the home, and personal help.

Depending on the care that a person needs, some aspects may include Wound Care.

It may be that they develop Palliative Care issues later on. These are considerations when they become very unwell.

The GP and care team should always be considered for medical and end-of-life support in the case of dementia. This helps a good life to continue while keeping the person comfortable.

Support at Home can also include meal preparation, Domestic help, Domestic Maintenance, transportation support and companionship care services, depending on individual needs.

Consider Support for Younger-Onset Dementia

Not everyone eligible for Aged Care uses it due to being below the expected aged care recipient age.

For example, some people with younger-onset dementia may be eligible for support under NDIS.

They may receive care for specific individual care needs. This can include access to support workers in daily activities, assistance with their health and well-being and involvement with the local community.

Care package specifics and eligibility depend on NDIS criteria and the individual needs of the person.

Personal Care Fee Changes From 1 October 2026

On 1 October 2026, there will be changes to personal care fee arrangements.

Approved Personal Care services will now be considered under the ‘clinical supports contribution category’.

Participants will be charged 0% participant contribution for those types of personal care support delivered through Support at Home.

How Much Funding Is Available Under Support at Home?

Eight classifications describe home care packages.

Annual fees offered range from $10,731 for classification 1 to $78,106.

All include the use of 10% of care management allocation at a given time.

Be Honest During the Aged Care Assessment

The family needs to make it clear to the aged care assessor what a person’s actual day involves.

This means talking about the parts that do not run smoothly.

For example:

“She is okay mostly.”

“He does dress his clothes himself.”

“She wanders occasionally.”

Family members should explain what really happens.

Give realistic insights. For example:

“He gets up a lot throughout the night trying to exit the house. The support worker must also support his care needs at the times which require support.”

“She forgets she’s taken meds, so someone needs to monitor this when food is prepared or medicine is administered.”

Specific details to carers, friends and support providers should be considered.

These can include falls, wandering attempts, lack of appetite, loss of weight, change in behaviour or sleep, missed medications and how support can affect this behaviour.

The elderly family member requires many hours spent on care services such as cooking and laundry tasks.

They may also organise a busy schedule of appointments and medicines.

They may not receive enough hours of sleep because they’re awake for each person in their charge through the night.

Families require respite programs. Brisbane families can take advantage of these programs while family members receive rest.

Respite may also be used within support groups or community-based services. These are dependent on care plans that are arranged individually.

Dementia Care Needs Can Change Over Time

Support at Home plans need to accommodate change.

If a person has an increasing number of falls, more care is necessary.

Medication management continues to be key. Increased Personal Care and clinical interventions can support this further.

Support packages must continue to meet the needs of the individual.

There may be a need for more senior staffing of care staff. There may also be a transition to higher levels of residential care if necessary.

Family caregivers cannot always adapt to this. New forms of support may be acquired, such as a new care provider, support staff, additional time from a support worker or changes in medication plans.

The home support model may not address individuals with certain complex Clinical care needs. This can lead to the need for a GP’s guidance or intervention if such support does not seem adequate or available at the household level.

A specialist dementia care program may be a suitable option where a loved one has more complex care needs, depending on the situation.

The care needed may be nurse-driven. It may have an Allied Health component or be provided by a range of allied health professionals.

Information can be shared between workers so that small but significant changes aren’t missed by those who provide the daily care.

For instance, a support worker may note difficulty walking. Occupational therapy could identify a potential fall risk at home. Nurses could observe health signs.

Specialised services are available in Brisbane and the surrounds, including the Gold Coast, depending on an individual’s specific needs and the range of services and options available.

Keep the Home Safe Without Restricting the Person

Some simple, day-to-day pleasurable activities that persons with dementia could still enjoy may include looking at family photographs and listening to music.

They may also play a musical instrument if they choose. They could sit in a favoured place with a favoured friend.

Being around workers known to them at predictable times for certain tasks often assists their comfort.

Factors could include falling numbers increasing, wandering posing a serious safety risk, greater physical needs, or a support person struggling to cope with the demands of daily living.

Always discuss issues fully with the person’s GP, clinical specialists, and all involved in care provision before major decision-making.

Determine if increasing support, structural home modification or a specific configuration of home-based service support could make home living safer for a considerable period of time.

It may be that the person may eventually need to receive more post-op care related to illness or procedure. This may be unrelated to the ongoing provision of care related to dementia.

The care plan must always focus on individual current care needs.

If accommodation, such as residential aged care, becomes the safest option after this discussion, the plan to make this transition must be focused on the needs and quality of life that best meet both the individual and the constraints the family can manage on an ongoing basis.

What Good Dementia Care Looks Like

The essence of good dementia care is rarely a single option that fits all.

Instead, it is an interconnected arrangement that seems to work through the small parts complementing each other perfectly.

Your home is safe.

The workers understand and are consistent in their understanding and delivery of support, as appropriate, to the person with dementia.

Your care team is aware of the potential issues and challenges to be expected during times of crisis.

It provides appropriate feedback and support to allow the main caregiver to rest.

The care plan is evaluated regularly and updated according to needs and outcomes as a lived decision-making process.

For one family living in Brisbane, a typical care plan could include assistance with daily Personal Care by a support worker in the morning.

It could include accompaniment during meals at midday with some conversation.

For a different family, this could range up to a combined plan with Allied Health provision, modification support at home and continuing to engage the person’s need for Clinical care as needed in the home.

When assessing individual care needs for a dementia condition, the primary goal must be for the services and supports to meet the person.

The aim is not to force an individual into pre-planned services.

What This Means for Your Family

Life may eventually become a series of challenges when confronted by this illness.

However, much still exists which remains in place with which you care for your loved one. This can and should be retained to promote health and well-being.

The addition of structural supports within the home where needed could assist with well-known personal tasks to continue in safety.

Likewise, retaining familiar, comfortable routines may help much.

Be in consultation with your aged care service provider for the best support during these times.

Employ workers trained to provide care to the specific needs that dementia involves before the condition reaches a crucial stage.

Support needs always vary between individuals. There should always be reassurance for all those involved as the condition changes and requires more assistance.

A person with a chronic condition involving dementia often sees things from a different perspective.

Family must remember and learn this as an essential factor when supporting those we care for.

How Do I Get Dementia Care in Brisbane?

Ask the provider of the care service, including Home Care support providers, all your questions relating to dementia care for individuals with this condition.

Inquire also about ongoing training and experience within the company. Ask about support that could be provided to individuals who receive care and the primary caregivers themselves when the original care worker or helper is not present or available.

What If Someone With Dementia Refuses Help?

Give a choice where applicable in the available area, or the time/day when specific care is required.

If refused, it should be documented and communicated to all caring parties.

Can Someone With Dementia Receive Care at Home?

Yes. This hinges on that person’s specific care needs and the level of support it is thought they will eventually require over the duration of the condition.

How Much Does In-Home Dementia Care Cost?

Your specific needs and arrangements of funding plus service delivery determine the price.

Under the Support at Home scheme, part payment by the service recipient may be possible.

Where Clinical care is approved, it will be fully financed by the Government.

From October 1, 2026, all Personal Care that has been approved may also be fully funded by the Government according to the new contribution method for the same provision.

When approaching a service provider to receive details, ask them specific questions relating to what your cost obligations would be.

What Does Sundowning Mean?

Sundowning refers to increased confusion and agitation often experienced by people in the late afternoon or early evening.

Routine for day and night is important at this time. Maintaining bright lighting within the area and minimising disruptions can also help.

What Should I Do About Night Wandering?

Ascertain triggers for this behaviour with those providing your loved one’s care services.

Implement safety measures to secure them in the home.

Ensure the lighting throughout the dwelling is suitable. Take time with discussion to discover the individual’s needs within this area.

Where the risk factors of roaming exist and pose some concern regarding safety, contact with your carer service is crucial for appropriate guidance with the issue.

What Support Can Family Carers Receive?

When requesting assistance with home help, dining services, Personal Care, companionship or respite from time to time, the appropriate person to contact would likely be an Aged Care Service Provider and/or the specific care service worker(s) giving assistance.

What Information Should I Give During the Assessment?

Honesty is the paramount aspect regarding these tasks.

Indicate how challenging some days might be.

List everything you are unable to do alone for your loved one. Detail how much you spend your day doing yourself to accommodate the needs within the family home.

Assessment should always reflect precisely what is needed by the recipient.

It should not reflect only what one seems able to do when supervised at the time by those conducting the assessment.

When Should Care Needs Be Reassessed?

A review and subsequent re-assessment should always be carried out promptly once significant shifts in health and ability can be measured.

For instance, this can include an increase in falls, roaming, dependency in Personal Care or Clinical needs.

This can provide a better quality of life in that aspect for persons afflicted.

Take careful notes relating to changes over time so that you are well-equipped for assessment dialogue.