<p><em>Caring for Residents of Aged Care</em> was designed in consultation with a Residents’ Advisory Group in an aged-care facility in Brisbane North.</p>
<p>‘The Residents’ Group was very important in helping us to understand how to engage with aged care facilities and what to offer in the program,’ said Julie.</p>
<p>Like any other mental health intervention, the program uses a selection of pre and post measures to evaluate outcomes. Evaluation shows the program leads to measurable reductions in residents’ anxiety and psychological distress, and high levels of client satisfaction.</p>
<p>Qualitative measures show improvements in mood, anxiety and stress; reductions in social isolation and acceptance; improved coping with life changes; and increases in self-worth.</p>
<p><strong>Alice’s* Story</strong></p>
<p>Alice lives at St Vincent’s Aged Care in Mitchelton. Her eyesight is poor and she spends much of her time in her room. Even though her son and daughter-in-law visit regularly, she often finds herself feeling lonely. But talking to Phil, a provisional psychologist with Change Futures, has made a world of difference. Spending time with Phil gives her someone who listens to her and gives her support.<br /><sub>* Name and aspects of the story changed to preserve anonymity.</sub></p>

<h5><strong>The program in a nutshell</strong></h5>
<p><strong>Name:</strong> Caring for Residents of Aged Care</p>
<p><strong>Providers: </strong>Change Futures</p>
<p><strong>Service type:</strong> Individual and group therapy in residential aged-care facilities</p>
<p><strong>Service duration: </strong>Conducted in episodes of five sessions; individual therapy available for up to 10 sessions; group therapy may be ongoing.</p>