The Enabling Household™ Model

Our dementia specialist houses are based on a new way of providing support, engagement and connection for people living with dementia. Our houses embrace a person-centred approach and create a day filled with opportunities to enhance wellbeing, create connection with others, support individuality and create meaningful activity opportunities that enable and maximise members abilities.

A day spent at one of our houses is tailored to each individual members needs, abilities and goals. It includes fun, meaning, conversation, maximising abilities and ensuring the person gets the most benefit both cognitively, emotionally and physically.

We have developed an evidence based therapeutic approach to providing a new way to offer support and respite to people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Enabling Households™ in Albany, Perth and Mandurah provide day and overnight short stays in specially designed dementia houses.

The experience of visiting a house is instantly familiar with the kitchen at the heart of the home, the smells of home cooked food drifting in the air, chatter and laughter filling the hallway and engaging and meaningful activities taking place inside and in the specially designed gardens and activity sheds. Our goal is a home away from home, but that provides a strong therapeutic outcome for every household member based on the latest dementia care research.

To find out more, read our article in the Australian Journal of Dementia Care.

The Enabling Households™ model incorporates other models including:

• The Eden Alternative™: Alzheimer’s WA Enabling Households™ are the only Eden registered day centres in Western Australia and were the first in Australia to achieve full registration.
• The Domains of Wellbeing™: The experience of a day at our Houses is based around enhancing each person’s Domain’s of Wellbeing™. These are areas of a person’s life that are considered necessary for wellbeing. At Alzheimer’s WA we believe the only way of achieving the domains is through an individualised experience that adjusts to the needs of each person and may differ from day to day. Our staff are highly trained to recognise when the domains are not being met and to adapt the experience or activity accordingly.

Read more about the Eden Alternative™ and Domains of Wellbeing™ models of care.

Benefits of attending

Evaluations of our Houses have shown strong positive outcomes for members.

These include:

• Improved motivation
• Improved communication
• A more positive outlook
• Greater social connections (making friends!)

Equally as important are benefits to carers and families. While a person with dementia spends time in one of our Houses, carers and families can have a day, or a few days, break to recharge the batteries or carry out important tasks.

Knowing the person is being well supported, is enjoying themselves and their physical and cognitive abilities are being supported makes a world of difference.

To hear from members about their experiences of our households please watch our Dare to Dream video:

The video below provides more information on the Enabling Household™ Model: