A WELLNESS model to help older people stay independent and living at home has taken out a top gong at national aged care awards.
South Australian not-for-profit aged care service Resthaven has taken home one of two National Better Practice Awards by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency.
The award was for Resthaven's Wellness and Reablement in Home Care model at the inaugural National Innovation and Excellence in Aged Care awards.
This new higher tier of Better Practice Awards recognises providers, nationally, demonstrating leading edge, innovative practices in aged care that represent 'excellence'.
Resthaven chief executive Richard Hearn said the organisation has listened to clients. "We have heard consumers say that what is most important to them is to be as independent as possible, and to stay living at home," he said.
"This award...reflects the genuine intent of our staff, as they work in partnership with those older individuals who have invited them into their homes with the goal of maintaining their quality of life."
Better Practice Awards are presented each year for projects, initiatives or programs that act as exemplars for other aged care service providers to assist and to encourage improvement to care and services.
"As one of the first winners of a National Innovation and Excellence in Aged Care award, we are also thrilled to have won a Commendation Award for our Spirituality in the Garden project," Mr Hearn said.
Bushland Health Group on the NSW mid-north coast was awarded the second National Better Practice Award for its Palliative Approach - Nurse Practitioner Model.
As part of the model a full-time nurse practitioner is responsible for the provision of palliative care across 263 residential aged care beds within the group.
