Dementia Services

Dementia Services We Offer

Maranoa House

A welcoming, secure and homely environment where we offer a range of programs designed to cater for the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.

Join our program

If you have a friend or family member interested in joining our program, please contact us on (03) 8809 4979. We can assist in facilitating a My Aged Care assessment if required.Your loved one’s well-being is our priority, and we look forward to welcoming them to our program.

Maranoa House

Maranoa House is a welcoming, secure and homely environment where we offer a range of programs designed to cater for the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.

Our focus is to care for individuals experiencing confusion, memory loss, and other behavioral changes.

Maranoa House offers a range of programs designed to cater to clients at all stages of cognitive impairment, from the early stages of forgetfulness to more advanced symptoms such as difficulty with communication and self-care.

Our operation, open 6 days per week, offers an invaluable respite option for family caregivers, allowing them to recharge. We understand that being a carer is no small thing, and often involves overcoming feelings of exhaustion and helplessness. Our aim is to provide a support network that helps carers navigate through what can be a very challenging journey.

The three programs that operate from Maranoa House cater to different forms of dementia and their corresponding levels of cognitive impairment. They are:

Planned activity groups (both in-house and outing
based)
Overnight & evening respite program
The Maranoa carer’s group

Each of these programs is developed taking into account the progression of the disease and places emphasis on enhancing social interactions and communication abilities.

Day Activity Program

An Evening and Overnight Respite Program for up to three clients per night operates on Wednesday evenings and nights. The program operates at Maranoa providing a familiar environment. Anyone may refer prospective clients who live in Boroondara or surrounds and are cared for at home.

Diverse Program Offerings

Our program includes a range of engaging activities:

In House Program
Going Out Club
The Italian Program
Just Blokes’ Group
Younger Onset Dementia Program at Maranoa Club
Evening Care (Wednesday Only)
Overnight Care (Wednesday Only)

We conduct these programs from Mondays to Saturdays, starting at 9:30 am and concluding at 3:30 pm. The ‘Going Out Club’ convenes on Wednesdays and Fridays, offering fun outings. A nominal fee covers a satisfying midday meal, morning and afternoon tea, and transportation during outings.

Click here to view our other respite day program at Samarinda, located in central Ashburton.

Inclusivity and Support

We welcome individuals dealing with incontinence, wandering tendencies, and behavioral changes; these factors do not preclude participation in our programs. While mobility is desirable, we provide occasional supervised care before and after all weekday sessions upon request.

Overnight and Evening Respite Program

Our adult day activity program operates six days a week, offering tailored activities suitable for individuals with varying degrees of dementia, whether mild, moderate, or severe. Our primary focus is to foster socialisation while also providing much-needed respite for caregivers.

Seeing someone with Dementia come alive inside and engage again, with a radiant smile that reaches their eyes. I am fortunate to have these highlights occurring on a daily basis.

Faye, Maranoa House

Maranoa Club

The club is dedicated to providing support to caregivers while simultaneously offering age-appropriate and meaningful activities for those diagnosed with Younger Onset Dementia.

My Place at Maranoa Club

Looking for a welcoming space away from home where you and your loved ones can unwind and connect? Look no further than My Place, the drop-in centre at Maranoa Club created to bring joy, relaxation, and community to your evenings and weekends. Somewhere our clients perceive as their space and feel secure and comfortable. Their place away from home where they can be the host.

Available to current clients only.

Maranoa Club

Younger Onset Dementia

Younger onset dementia (YOD), also known as early-onset dementia, refers to the occurrence of dementia symptoms in individuals who are below the age of 65. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is characterized by memory loss, impaired cognitive function, and changes in behaviour.

While dementia is more commonly associated with older adults, it can affect individuals in their 40s, 50s, or early 60s. Younger onset dementia may present unique challenges because it can impact individuals during their prime working and family-raising years.

Early detection and intervention are crucial for addressing symptoms, providing appropriate support, and helping individuals and their families cope with the challenges associated with dementia. Treatment may involve medications, therapy, and lifestyle modifications to improve quality of life.

BASScare’s Maranoa Club recognises the unique challenges faced by individuals with YOD and their caregivers. The club is dedicated to providing support to caregivers while simultaneously offering age-appropriate and meaningful activities for those diagnosed with YOD.

Here are some key aspects of how Maranoa Club aims to fulfill this mission

Provides a support network to help caregivers cope with the emotional, financial, and practical challenges associated with caring for a loved one with YOD.

Designs and implements specialised programs and activities that cater to the unique needs and interests of individuals with YOD. These activities are chosen with consideration for the age, preferences, and abilities of the participants.

Focuses on activities that stimulate cognitive function, recognising the importance of maintaining mental agility for individuals with YOD. These activities may include memory games, puzzles, gardening and creative pursuits that engage and challenge.

Recognising the social isolation that can accompany YOD, Maranoa Club emphasises creating a supportive community. Social activities and outings provide opportunities for individuals with YOD to connect with peers and the community, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation.

The club promotes activities that enhance both physical and mental well-being. This may include exercises adapted to the abilities of the participants, mindfulness sessions, and activities that encourage self-expression and creativity.

By addressing the specific needs of both caregivers and individuals with YOD, BASScare’s Maranoa Club plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for those affected by this challenging condition. The club’s holistic approach aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers individuals with YOD to live fulfilling lives as part of a community while providing essential support to their caregivers

Maranoa Carer's Support Group

A place for carers to have a break, take some time for themselves, and get to know others in similar situations.

Maranoa Carer’s Support Group

The task of caring for a person at home often falls to a spouse, close relative or a friend. The challenge of managing the early symptoms and stages of a dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially considering the cognitive impairment, confusion, and behavioural changes that come with it. It’s a complex and demanding relationship often made more difficult through a lack of understanding and support.

Memory impairment, a symptom of cognitive decline, often appears in the early stages of neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. This can cause confusion and forgetfulness, affecting communication and behaviour. People of any age can be impacted, although the likelihood increases with age. It is the health and wellbeing outcome that many families fear most.

Family members often find their life is no longer their own, as their relationships are put on hold and their leisure time gradually disappears. The people most likely to know how to help and understand how you are feeling are those who have had similar experiences.

Enter the Maranoa Carers’ Group. We’re all about providing a safe and supportive environment for carers, addressing the effects of cognitive impairment and navigational health services for both early stages and advanced symptoms. We offer a place for carers to have a break, take some time for themselves, and get to know others in similar situations. We meet every fourth Monday of the month, from 12pm to 2:30pm (including a light lunch), and we provide respite care for the client if needed.

The Maranoa Carers’ Group provides an invaluable opportunity for participants to share experiences, feel understood, and learn about memory and neurodegenerative disorders. It also addresses the role of both confounding confusion and forgetfulness and constructive communication in these stages.

Enjoy some time out and meaningful conversation about the world outside of caregiving

Learn more about the challenges of caregiving and possible strategies from other carers

Share experiences with others in a safe and supportive environment

Access relevant information on various topics from engaged speakers

The Challenges of Caring

Like most demanding jobs, being a family carer comes with its own rewards and satisfactions. There are a number of opportunities to learn new skills and prove to yourself that you can meet new challenges. You can strengthen a relationship with the person you care for, and know that you have helped someone who needs it and by improving their quality of life. But the challenges of being a carer are significant, and can quickly become overwhelming if we try to ignore them.

Caring for a person with dementia can be stressful, demanding, and exhausting. It’s a role that doesn’t allow much time for self-care, which is why so many caregivers experience burnout. Exposure to prolonged periods of stress, as well as physical and emotional exhaustion, can leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated. These are perfectly normal reactions to the role of caregiver, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. There is help and support.

Respite services, such as what we offer at Maranoa House, are as beneficial to the person receiving the care as they are to the person giving it. In the face of confusion and forgetfulness, those with dementia are given the rare opportunity to socialise with others in a different environment and get involved in a variety of activities. For the carer, they get the invaluable prospect of ‘me time’, whether that is doing some shopping, reading a book, catching up with friends, or simply running some errands.

Dementia Services