First Nations Telegraph

[by Kelvin Bissett]

Kuba Natha Hostel Residents and staff in outdoor courtyard. Image: supplied

Tailored interventions to help First Nations elders living with dementia have transformed quality of life for all in an aged care home on an isolated Gulf of Carpentaria Island.

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Among the outcomes – an unused, empty courtyard is now a vibrant gathering space for yarning and laughter around a firepit.

The collaboration between selectability and Dementia Support Australia (DSA) at Kuba Natha Hostel showcase how thoughtful interventions can create an environment that is truly enjoyable for all residents in an aged care setting. 

The results are evidence that personalised strategies recommended by DSA and active implementation by selectability staff can lead to great results when responding to behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in First Nations communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three to five times more likely to develop dementia than the rest of Australia and are likely to have symptoms earlier.

Mornington Island, population 1200, is the traditional home of the Lardil people. There are also Kaiadilt people from Bentinck Island and other peoples.

Kuba Natha is the island’s only aged care home. It has a dozen residents, some living with dementia, chronic health and disabilities.There are 17 dedicated staff who fly in and fly out to support the residents.

Kuba Natha regional manager Jayne Maddick said there had been notable improvement in the aged care home this year.

“The residents are more engaged, and boredom is less of a concern,” she said. “When we had the cooler nights, we were lighting the fire in the fire pit outside and everyone was around sharing stories and laughing.’’

A weekly barbecue with family members invited has also been initiated.

In recent months there have been “only” two incidents with residents and “that is a huge change”.

Operator selectability, who took over Kuba Natha operations last year, called DSA for advice in March after a new resident, a 73-year-old woman, presented with “physical responsiveness towards staff” in the words of DSA consultant Alison Carnecky.

The woman, a domestic violence survivor, had been homeless and malnourished. Ms Carnecky said direction over where to smoke cigarettes was also a trigger for her.

“She did not just threaten staff, but she also attempted to attack them. At one point, they locked themselves in an office for protection,” Ms Carnecky said.

This was all a response by her to understand her environment and situation where she wasn’t able to communicate her needs clearly.

Working closely with staff, Ms Carnecky proposed solutions after finding the woman was also not taking her medication to address back pain. Medication was needed to help with anxiety and depression.

Simple interventions were recommended such as a TV for the woman to watch in her own room to end disputes over TV programs in the common space. She was included as a passenger in a community care service that travels the island three days a week in response to her need to keep her connected to her community.

A major change benefitting all residents was creating an appealing outdoor communal space to improve the quality of life and provide an alternative to indoor living space.

Ms Maddick said complexities of past trauma could sometimes be overwhelming, and it was important for aged care providers at places like Kuba Natha to approach these with sensitivity and understanding.

DSA Head of Professional Services Marie Alford said trauma informed, culturally sensitive support for First Nation’s people living with dementia was a growing area of DSA focus for its 300 consultants located across Australia.