Activities of daily living
The Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale is a useful tool to assess a person’s functional status.
This tool asks about a person’s ability to manage
- The telephone
- Shopping
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Transportation
- Medications
- Finances
Identifying issues of concern can direct the development of strategies to maintain function and independence to the greatest degree possible.
To access aids and equipment to support independence consider referral to an occupational therapist (OT) or directly to the State Wide Equipment Program.
Community allied health: assistive technology
A variety of equipment and assistive technology is available to support people with dementia to build upon their strengths and live more independently.
Refer patient for assessment to allied health staff (occupational therapist or physiotherapist) where the person requires equipment due to frailty, memory issues or other issues arising as a result of dementia.
State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP) 1300 747 937 or 5333 8100
* A professional assessment and advice from an occupational therapist or physiotherapist is required prior to accessing products from SWEP
An occupational therapist will evaluate the current situation in the home environment and then recommend changes, make modifications or assist the person with dementia and their carer to develop new routines that will enhance safety and capability to undertake daily activities.
Contact details: Occupational Therapy
|
Occupational Therapy |
|
|---|---|
|
Ballan District and Health Care |
5366 7999 |
|
Ballarat Health Services |
5320 6690 |
|
City of Ballarat |
5320 5629 |
|
Djerriwarrh Health Services – Bacchus Marsh |
9747 7609 |
|
Hepburn Health Services – Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Trentham and districts |
5321 6550 |
|
Moorabool Shire Council |
5366 7100 |
|
St John of God Health Choices Ballarat |
5338 8932 |
|
Vision Australia |
5337 4555 |
|
Beaufort & Skipton Health Service |
5349 1600 |
|
East Grampians Health Service – Ararat and |
5352 9327 |
|
East Wimmera Health Service – St Arnaud |
5477 2222 |
|
Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre |
5355 5000 |
|
Lake Bolac Bush Nursing Centre |
5355 8700 |
|
Stawell Regional Health |
5358 8531 |
|
Dunmunkle Health Services – Minyip |
5363 1200 |
|
Dunmunkle Health Services – Murtoa |
5363 0400 |
|
Rural Northwest Health Services |
5396 1262 |
|
West Wimmera Health Services – Goroke, Jeparit, Kaniva, Natimuk, Nhill, Rainbow |
5391 4222 |
|
Wimmera Health Care Group |
5381 9333 |
Resources
Dementia Australia has:
- Help sheets to support all aspects of daily living
- A list of aids to assist someone with memory loss to manage better at home
Other useful resources include