The Supporting Emotional Wellness in Aged Care (SEW) provides free individual and group counselling services for people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) across metropolitan Adelaide. This service allows residents of registered RACFs to access free mental health services available to those in the community.
Depression is not a normal part of ageing, but as we get older adjusting to change can increase stress levels and feelings of loneliness. There are many factors that can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety including:
- Feeling less in control or less confident
- Grief and loss
- Spending more time on your own
- Having a health problem
- Moving away from family or supports
- A change in living arrangements or being a new resident
- Having to give up driving or other activities you enjoy
- Family or relationship problems.
About the Supporting Emotional Wellness service:
Several types of support may be helpful and are offered by trained health professionals. Talking about feelings can be enormously beneficial such as feelings of loss and grief, anger, anxiety and depression.
The program supports a health professional to visit the Residential Aged Care Facility to:
- Meet with the resident to talk about how they are going
- Support the Resident to build skills to cope with change
- Discuss ways to increase pleasures and enjoyment in life
- All conversations are kept private and confidential
- Access to interpreting and cultural translation services, if needed, to use our service.
The program also offers group activities to provide strategies to cope with the past and learn practice skills to better manage stress. These groups include:
- Reminiscence Therapy
- Therapeutic Drumming
- Welcome groups for people new to the residential aged care facility.
- Mindfulness
- Grief and Loss
- Education and information sessions for residents on shared issues of concern such as coping with grief and loss sleep issues.
Emotional wellness is an important part of our general health. The supporting Emotional Wellness service is here to support residents of aged care facilities.
What you can expect:
The expected benefits of psychological services for RACF residents are improvements in mood, adjustment and functioning and increased ability to cope with life changes.
To learn more about our stepped care approach to delivering our services, click here.
Supporting Emotional Wellness in Aged Care – Download a brochure HERE
Referrals
We welcome self-referrals, as well as referrals from friends, family and neighbours.
Who else can refer?
- All residential aged care facility staff: Clinical leads, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and lifestyle and leisure carers.
- General practitioners
- Allied health professionals
- Students and volunteers
- Community services.
For a full list of registered residential aged care facilities, please click here.
If you cannot find your residential aged care facility on our list, please reach out. We will arrange contact.
Information for Facilities & Allied Health (inc referrals) | CLICK HERE
The Supporting Emotional Wellness program delivers services to those exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms. To learn more about our stepped care approach to delivering our services, click here.
Our staff
The Supporting Emotional Wellness in Aged Care will be delivered by suitably qualified mental health clinicians such as: Psychologists, accredited mental health Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Mental Health Nurses. Mental Health clinicians providing Supporting Emotional Wellness Services receive professional supervision and on-going training.
Other relevant services
- Relationship Australia SA Elder Relationship Services provide counselling and mediation support to assist older people and their families HERE
- Charter of Aged Care Rights: Visit the website HERE.
- National Dementia Helpline: Visit their website HERE or call 1800 100 500
- The Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS) offers advocacy assistance to support older people to uphold their rights and their responsibilities: Visit their website HERE or call (08) 8232 5377 or 1800 700 600
- SA Elder Abuse Prevention, Adult Safeguarding Unit: Visit their website HERE or call 1800 372 310 (freecall).
- Aged Care Quality Standards: Visit the website HERE.
- Older Persons Mental Health Service (OPMHS): Visit their website HERE
- The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) is operated and administered by Dementia Support Australia (DSA): Visit their website HERE or call 1800 699 799.
More brochures, booklets and video resources – CLICK HERE
Supporting Emotional Wellness in Aged Care service will run initially until June 2022.
Locations Available
Cost
The Supporting Emotional Wellness service is FREE to residents residing in a Residential Aged Care facility that has registered for this service. To access the service, simply talk to a staff member at your RACF and they will be able to help.
Service Resources
Please direct all enquiries to 1800 182 325. If you would like to complete a referral form, click here.
Funding Acknowledgement
This is a free, independent, safe and confidential counselling service funded by Adelaide Primary Health Network through the Commonwealth Government’s Psychological Treatment Services for people with mental conditions in RACFs budget measure.