A better place for aged care 

Pictured: Flo, a resident at Dorothy Impey Home with psychologist Ronan Galloghly.

“I’m losing my sight and other things,” says Flo, 105, a much-loved resident at Dorothy Impey Home in Pascoe Vale South. 

“But I haven’t lost my ability to talk, and I’ve got lots to say.” 

For many people living in aged care homes, as they near the end of life, just having a person to talk to brings comfort. Even with some of the best care in the world from the dedicated staff at Dorothy Impey, living in aged care can at times be isolating and confronting. 

Since 2020, NWMPHN has commissioned Better Place Australia’s mental health clinicians to support residents experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues. 

Psychologist Ronan Galloghly is one of these clinicians. The trust and rapport he has built with residents is immediately obvious. Clare De Silva, assistant lifestyle coordinator at Dorothy Impey, says many ask after him when he’s not around. 

“He’s easy to talk to,” she says. “People can tell him things that they might have told family many times before, or don’t have family to tell. 

“People often feel isolated when they arrive here. They’ve left the comfort of their home, they’ve lost some of their independence, they might have lost loved ones and social connections. They need that support. 

“We love our job, and it’s obvious that Ronan does, too.” 

Some residents, like “old Port Melbourne boy” Max, have physical goals they want to achieve. Ronan helps to bring these into reach. 

“In many ways, Max has taken to life here like a duck to water,” says Ronan. “He loves getting tea served to him and the fact that he doesn’t have to cook or clean. He gets regular visitors who know that he’s well looked after. 

 “However, setting goals for his mobility is really beneficial for Max’s mental health. I work collaboratively with the nurses and the physios to help him achieve these. 

“It’s a true multidisciplinary approach.” 

Ronan used to work with adolescents. He says there are parallels between caring for the mental health of teenagers and older people. 

“Adjusting to an aged care facility can be a little bit like the school yard, because you're the new person in there,” he says. 

“You find that people's lack of confidence can come to the fore pretty quick. 

“There’s a wrestle for independence. Loss of mobility is a big one, but also when a family start to have power of attorney – it's kind of like that teenager with a parent, and they want to wrestle back.” 

Graeme Westaway, executive manager for advocacy at Better Place Australia, says that mental health support in aged care is a vitally important service which helps people live in a meaningful and dignified manner. 

“All people, regardless of age, should have access to quality mental health support. The general community does not necessarily recognise the very high prevalence of depression and anxiety that older people experience in the great upheaval of transition into aged care. The funding from NWMPHN is essential in restoring residents’ psychological wellbeing at no charge. 

“Our practitioners place great value on offering tailored, flexible and goal oriented psychological support to older people in residential care.” 

Ronan agrees. 

“It’s very rewarding to do this work, I feel very privileged,” he says. 

“You don't often get to do a job like this, where you unpack someone's memories and unpack someone's life. It makes me reflect on my life and makes me more grateful for the things that I have. 

“You've got people that have encountered distress that I couldn't even fathom, like the Great Depression, World War Two, the Stolen Generations. 

“When I leave here and get worried about my latte, or my football team not doing well, it makes it feel very, very trivial.” 

Rhonda Withers, clinical and program lead for Elder Services at Better Place Australia, says Ronan is part of a team that includes psychologists, social workers, mental health registered nurses, a dance and movement therapist and a music therapist.

“We are very proud of the team that we have built for the aged care program. They are very diverse with a wide variety of ages, nationalities, languages, genders, backgrounds and skills. Everyone is genuinely passionate about the mental wellbeing of older people, and they work together to achieve great outcomes for aged care residents.

“Our clinicians provide one-on-one counselling sessions, as well as facilitating an innovative evidence-based group session program that includes seated dance and movement therapy, music therapy, shared memory sessions, and men’s groups. 

“We’re also starting a ‘drumming for wellbeing’ program, which is proven to boost mood, wellbeing, and social connection, and decrease anxiety.”

Better Place Australia’s clinicians delivered more than 6,000 counselling sessions to more than 1,000 residents across the NWMPHN catchment to June 2023. 

A second organisation – APMHA Healthcare – is now also providing psychological treatment to aged care home residents in the NWMPHN catchment. Services are available to all 127 aged care homes in the region.

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