Calvary Home Care General Manager – NSW and ACT, Jessica Scaife, said Calvary’s Mary Potter House, on the grounds of Calvary Health Care Kogarah, provided clients living with dementia a safe space to engage with others, develop and maintain their independent living skills, and improve their quality of life.

“We know around 70 per cent of people living with dementia live at home and, according to Dementia Australia, more than 1.6 million people are involved in caring for those living with dementia,” Ms Scaife said.

“The model of care that we are offering at Mary Potter House brings to life Calvary’s PEARS model of care, which embraces the aspects of personhood, environment, activity, relationships and safe care, each underpinned by a set of principles and outcome measures.

“The individual is at the heart of everything we do at Calvary, and the Dementia Day Program offered at Mary Potter House is adapted to each client’s needs and changing abilities.”

The program aims to support clients maintain their cognition and ability to live as independently as possible in their own homes, while relieving their caregivers from their usual carer responsibilities. Activities include mobility and balance exercises, brain fit activities, multicultural events, and dance and music therapy.

Calvary Kogarah Health Care General Manager, Andrea Ness said the colocation of Mary Potter House with the hospital provided the opportunity for greater collaboration between the two services.

“Calvary is committed to providing connected care and I’m excited about the opportunities a dedicated Dementia Day Respite Centre onsite will provide to our patients and their loved ones,” Ms Ness said.

Those aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for First Nations Persons) and living with dementia in their own homes are eligible for the Dementia Day Program at Calvary’s Mary Potter House.

For more information on day respite services at Mary Potter House, please call 1300 797 522 or explore our Home Care services here.