Time Out With Tablets

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting everyday living through gradual memory loss and cognitive decline. When Martin Bongailas’s mum, Mary, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago, Martin decided to retire early to care for her.

Martin supports her with personal care (he even dyes her hair), and performs all the household tasks. He also finds time to take Mary to bingo, one of her favourite pastimes – leaving him with little time for himself.

Despite that, Martin is adamant about supporting his mum at home. 

“Mum had a hard life and I’m determined to continue caring for her at home,” said Martin, who takes a break when Mary goes to her weekly overnight respite at Southern Cross Care Macleod Cottage on Saturdays, and the occasional three- to four-night break funded by Carerlinks during the year.

This enables Martin to have some time for himself, to keep in touch with his friends and to go on fishing trips with them twice a year.

“I like the friendly and homely atmosphere at Macleod where Mum can help in the kitchen, make her bed and hang the washing if she wants to,” he said.

Another lifestyle option keeping Mary engaged during her stay at the cottage is the electronic tablet, which has proven to be beneficial in the management of complex behaviours in people living with dementia. Being from a Maltese background, Mary particularly enjoys listening to Maltese songs on the tablet.

When she is worried about not being at church on Sundays, she gets immense satisfaction from staff playing mass on the device. And at times when anxiety keeps Mary awake at night, staff will use the tablet to recite the rosary to comfort her to sleep.

Aged care provider, Southern Cross Care (Vic), started trialling the use of electronic tablets at Southern Cross Care Macleod Cottage at the beginning of last year, with remarkable outcomes such as Mary’s. Each client who attends respite at the Cottage has the opportunity to experience the technology.