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Arcare Hope Island Residents to Feature in National Dementia and Recreation Conference

on Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Allison Ferguson, the Lifestyle Coordinator at Arcare Hope Island, will be a guest speaker at the 2016 Dementia and Recreation National Conference held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. The conference, running from August 17th – 18th, aims to share ideas on improving the lives of people with dementia through lifestyle opportunities. 

Allison will be speaking about the ‘Sailability’ project and how her Community Connect program has successfully linked residential aged care communities to the wider community through leisure and lifestyle.

The benefits of this program have demonstrated the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with the community, particularly for those in society who are vulnerable. 

The Arcare Hope Island residents have developed close connections with the local Hope Island community through their partnership with Sailability a not for profit organisation supporting the elderly, people who are financially and socially disadvantaged, as well as people with physical challenges.

The group from Hope Island have been enjoying sailing each week, and have made some lasting friendships with others in the program, bonding over their shared interests and the salty ocean air.

Initially hesitant due to his physical limitations, Kevin has embraced Sailability and is loving the freedom of being on the open water. He recently commented, ‘I feel free outside of my wheelchair. We go there as strangers and return as good friends.’

There are many other residents who have experienced this same sense of freedom and exhilaration from the program.

Click here to find out more about Arcare's aged care and home care services.

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