When David, 78, suddenly became very unwell and was admitted to hospital, his family were left trying to understand what was happening to him.
‘Dad went downhill very quickly,’ shares his daughter Sarah. ‘He didn’t recognise my brother when he visited, and was showing uncharacteristically aggressive behaviour. It was heartbreaking to see such a gentle natured person change like this.’
David was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia in 2021, that evolved to Corticobasal Syndrome, a rare form of dementia that dramatically affected David's speech and understanding of language.
While David was still in hospital, the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP), run by Dementia Support Australia, met with him and his family. The program supports people living with dementia to move from hospital into suitable aged care, while helping families and care teams navigate a time that can be complex, emotional and uncertain.
The care for David was personal from the start. When the team learned that one of his favourite activities had been walking Sarah’s dog Pepper, they sourced a robotic dog to bring comfort and familiarity during his hospital stay.
‘Edwina, the family liaison officer from the HACDSP team, also supported me with the transition process for Dad, and helped me acknowledge my own feelings about his diagnosis,’ explains Sarah.
After a month-long search, David moved into a care home where he was able to take part in daily activities he enjoyed.
The support continued after the move. Marc, another member of the HACDSP team, visited David regularly. When David could no longer use the CD player Sarah had brought in, Marc sourced a music player, preloaded it with David’s favourite artists and added labels so he could use it himself.
‘The care team thought Marc was his son, they got on so well. And when I asked Dad who had supplied the new machine he said, ‘a mate.’
‘I can’t speak more highly of the care we received,’ Sarah says. ‘The HACDSP program changed our lives. We are so grateful.’