Sharing the Care

The transition to residential care

Everyone's ageing journey, and their path to residential care, is unique.

Informed by first-hand experience, Sharing the Care was initiated by Uniting AgeWell’s Tasmanian-based social worker Heidi Morton in response to the amount of carer stress she witnessed when the person they care for transitions into residential care.

Part of Uniting AgeWell’s approach to mental health and wellbeing, the kit content was developed through consultation with family carers via a series of focus groups, as well as with residents, staff and health professionals.

“We aim to reassure carers what they are going through is quite normal,” Heidi says. “And that both the carer and the resident need to be okay for you both to be okay.”

How we assist carers, like Alice, at every step

Alice grew up one of fifteen children and quickly learnt how to get on with getting on. But waking up at all hours of the night to care for her 93-year-old husband, Rex, showering and feeding him, and taking him to the toilet took its toll on her. And she helplessly watched as his dementia worsened.

Rex soon moved into Uniting AgeWell Latrobe Community Strathdevon. He’s been happy and content from the get-go, and Alice says the level of care is excellent.

Despite this, she was unprepared for the rollercoaster of emotions she still finds herself on: guilt, relief, happiness, emptiness, sadness … “You name it, I feel it!” she says.