Innovative Dementia Care Project in National Spotlight

IRT has welcomed the selection of their Flametree Dementia Care Project at IRT Woonona as a finalist in the 2016 HESTA Aged Care Awards. 

The Flametree Project is a finalist in the Team Innovation category, which recognises a team in the aged care sector that has demonstrated innovation by initiating and/or developing a service or system that benefits patients and/or the community.

Rod Young, Acting CEO of IRT Group said that the innovative Flametree Project at IRT Woonona has been achieving better care outcomes for aged care residents living with dementia, their families and staff.

"Flametree incorporates best practice and cutting-edge environmental design, such as improving sight lines between residents and staff, skirting boards and corridors painted different colours to help with way finding, and murals and street scenes created on exterior walls," he said.

"There have been less falls, agitation, exit seeking and frustration from residents since the environmental changes have been in place. And really, that's what we're all about - better care and outcomes for our residents."

Collaboration with the NSW/ACT Dementia Training Study Centre at the University of Wollongong (UOW) has enabled the transformation and the centre’s director, Professor Richard Fleming, is researching how these changes are influencing care outcomes.

HESTA CEO, Debby Blakey, said the finalists were selected from an outstanding field of nominations.

Winners will be announced at an awards dinner to be held in Canberra on 4 August 2016.

Click here to find out more about IRT's aged care services.