Home provides an environment that makes us feel safe, welcome and comfortable. 

Many aged care homes for people with dementia don’t feel like home, and this can have a truly negative impact on their quality of life. 

HarbisonCare is taking steps to drastically change and improve its model of care for dementia patients. 

Developed, pioneered and operated by UK-based Dementia Care Matters, The Butterfly Household Model of Care shifts from the traditional clinical approach, to a person-centred model, empowering residents to live life their way. 

Daily routines give way to relaxed, unscheduled days allowing residents to openly express their feelings and desires and participate in activities they are interested in, at a time convenient for them.

At present, only four Australian facilities have launched this model of care and HarbisonCare is the first rural Butterfly Household on the east coast of Australia.

All facilities have seen the health, quality of life and wellbeing for residents living with dementia significantly improve. 

The program will first launch in the Moss Vale centre and will then move to the Burradoo premises. 

Under the program, institutional features like rigid routines and medicine trolleys will be ditched for brightly coloured artworks on the walls and “stuff” for people to play with. 

A small-household style of living for people with dementia will also be created in a family-like environment.

HarbisonCare CEO David Cochran said the new model was a welcome change. 

“We are very excited to introduce the Butterfly model into Harbison and we hope it is a very heartening experience,” he said. 

“There’s no instruction book but there are principles which we will make work for HarbisonCare.” 

Mr Cochran said HarbisonCare would rely on the support of the community and volunteers to roll-out the program. 

“This will be a community effort and we want as much help driving the implementation as possible,” he said.