<p><strong>Brisbane North PHN is pleased to present, Our stories— an overview of the mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment services commissioned by the PHN.</strong></p>
<p>Each month, we will present a snapshot of services based off the perspectives of both service users and service providers – sharing real experiences and real outcomes. This month we are profiling the <em>Caring for Residents of Aged Care program</em>, created by Change Futures.</p>
<p><em>Caring for Residents of Aged Care</em> places provisional psychologists in residential aged-care facilities to provide therapeutic programs for groups and individuals. What started as a small pro-bono program with St Vincent’s Aged Care in Brisbane’s northside has now spread to 17 facilities across the region with funding from Brisbane North PHN.</p>
<p>Program founder Julie Aganoff said they’re uncovering a huge need for psychological therapies in aged care.</p>
<p>‘Many, many residents in aged care experience psychological distress,’ she said. ‘Programs that support residents and improve their wellbeing are urgently needed.’</p>
<p>Julie said that the time when people first move into aged care can be particularly difficult. ‘When people move into aged care, they’re often lonely, distressed to have left their home, and unsure what the future will bring. They’ve often lost their social connections and need to start again, developing a friendship group in their new environment.</p>
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