HDA June 2022 Community Newsletter
Download HDA Snapshot JUNE 2022
Our hard work over the past seven years is now starting to pay off. Our dreams are being realised!
Lisa Chesters, our local Federal Member of Parliament, officially opened the HDA’s Futures Hub (Virtual Research, Innovation, Education and Training Hub) in February. Great things have happened in this space in the last four months
Futures Hub
INNOVATION
- CaptureLive AI, a young team of innovators, have relocated their business to the Hub. They are working on their falls prevention project along with other innovations.
- HDA has set up a collaboration with Intelicare, who like HDA are looking at reimagining and transforming healthcare management. Intelicare’s 24/7, in-home technology will provide a range of in-home solutions for our care cabins. These include, but are not limited to, humancentric lighting, air pollution reduction, thermal and a range of assistive products which will ensure independence and quality of life for the residents. You can see more at www.intelicare.com.au
- Online Peer Support project – Verily Connect. HDA has been given exclusive licence by La Trobe University to enhance and implement the Verily Connect program. Work is about to commence on updating links and resources before expanding the program. www. verilyconnect.org.au
RESEARCH
HDA, Heathcote Health, Intelicare and La Trobe University (Dept. Computer Science & Information Technology) are currently planning to undertake a national longitudinal trial on the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) for our care cabins. It is anticipated this will be a 12 month study
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- An artificial intelligence demonstration, hosted by HDA and presented by Intelicare,was recently held in the Futures Hub. Three demonstrations were held to a varied audience – Heathcote Health staff, carers, university staff, and interested community members.
- Discussions are currently underway with La Trobe University Rural School of Health to co design an accredited short course for our Dementia Mates Volunteers. The course will create pathways to studying certified courses and traineeships, should our volunteers and carers wish to enter the workforce. One of our team members has recently undertaken an audit of the types of education and training available which has in turn help create the three modules we are considering. It is anticipated the course will available for the first semester 2023.
- HDA is in the process of forming a “Movie Club”, which will operate in a similar fashion to book clubs. Participants will be invited to watch a movie (in their own homes). The movies will be related to the work of Heathcote Dementia Alliance – carers, effects on families, etc. They will be provided a list of consideration points and come together at the Futures Hub to have a coffee and chat about the movie
- Plans are underway for a number of virtual conferences / seminars. A virtual Summit which is in the planning phase.
Utilising National contacts HDA board member Simon Drysdale has started to feel out interest for an online symposium focusing on how the built form has/can/should participate as a care component of the whole care management/ experience spectrum.
Early feedback has been very encouraging with design practitioners being selected
and approached from each Australian state. Suggestion has been made that the event should have aligned specialist representation from law, food technology and restraint etc
There is a hunger for something new and something that is not dictated by ways of old that are entrenched into the 9c building type. For this event it is the smaller and more nimble emerging practices that are being approached. This often unseen work deserves to be celebrated. It is hoped that should this become a reality that it will further position HDA as rural/regional thought leaders merging research with evidence based sector knowledge.
- Heathcote Health CEO, Dan Douglass, with support from Eugene Meegan from HDA, has engaged with La Trobe University, Occupational Therapy Department to provide three final year Occupational Therapy students to conduct a 12 week study to explore the potential for Green Care in the Heathcote district.
The students are based in Bendigo, and they will meet online on a regular basis with Dan and Eugene to receive supervision and guidance on their project. They will explore various venues around Heathcote for their suitability to provide Green Care. They intend to interview residents of Heathcote Health residential facility and their carers to measure their interest in participation in the program.
Green Care for dementia is about delivering a more dementia-friendly environment. The original concept used interaction with animals, plants and nature to offer health-promoting activities for people but it can be any space or place where there is potential for engagement between people living with dementia and the local community, including shops, restaurants, libraries, and community centres
At the conclusion of the study, they will provide a literature search and report of their findings and recommendations to the University and to Heathcote Health and HDA.
HDA has now moved into our new space at the rear of the Heathcote Health Building. As well as office space andareas for our innovators and researchers, we also have access to the boardroom which will house our Intelicare AI Demonstration board and display products.
If you are interested in becoming part of this exciting innovation please email hello@heathcotedementia.org or call Eugene on 0419 514 381.
COMMUNICATION
- Thanks to Academy XI’s Kauri, Mabel, Joanne and Yuka, who have been responsible for the design and development of our website and to our website administrator Jo Jo, of CaptureLive we now have a website which we are really proud of www.heathcotedementa.org
- We are now also on Instagram and LinkedIn.
- HDA Board members Simon and Sandra were invited back to present at the May add LASA in full here first (LASA) Virtual Forum on the Future of Aged Care Accommodation. The link to the presentation is available on our website.
- We have done several presentations over the past six months including to government departments and community organisations. The latest was for the Loddon Mallee Health Network. It is great to see so much interest in what HDA is doing.
CARING FOR THE CARER
A lot of work has been done in relation to our Dementia Mates Volunteer program.
- Dementia Mates Profiling - Using The TEIQue Model (Emotional Quotient) as a starting point, certain traits/attitudes that should ideally be displayed by Dementia Mates
The following documents have been developed
- Volunteer;
- Code of Conduct
- Handbook
- Memorandum of Understanding
- Role Description
When we have fully identified training requirements, recruitment of volunteers will commence and we hope to see many locals joining us.
COSTERFIELD HOUSE – PROTOTYPE CARE CABIN
- Our Planning Permit has come through and it is now full steam ahead for the
cabin prototype which will go out the front of Heathcote Health. Drawings are now
with the manufacturer (name them for the publicity?) whose structural engineer and building surveyor will check them out and then construction will commence. We are looking forward to the turning of the sod and site works in the short term. Plans are now underway in relation to the fit out, including AI, colour design, and assistive technology. We are also talking with the Australian representatives from the University of Stirling UK – Dementia Services Development Centre, as we work towards gold accreditation.
CLUSTER COMMUNITY
- The HDA Cluster Community Concept is creating a lot of interest. We have already received eight expressions of interest from Residential Aged Care Providers looking for innovative solutions.
Due to the magnitude of this project, we have formed a Consortium to help drive it and bring it to fruition. We are currently working on terms of reference, developing a business case for a unique affordable housing model which will allow rural and remote Australians to remain in, and be supported by, their community.
Like to be part of our exciting initiatives email us at hello@heathcotedementia.org or call Sandra 0417 350911.
