Warrigal CEO Jenni Hutchins says older people should feel known, loved, and connected. Photo: Warrigal.
Aged care provider Warrigal has unveiled its first Dementia Action Plan, a roadmap with a person-centred approach at its heart to ensure residents, clients, and families impacted by dementia are valued and supported.
It was developed with Warrigal’s dementia care expert Professor Victoria Traynor, who has been at the forefront of research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older populations.
Within the plan, 11 key activities are outlined across Warrigal’s residential care homes, community villages, and home services.
Two of those are already underway: a work-based education program training dementia specialist practitioners to support teams with evidence-based care; and practical changes to homes and villages to create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for people living with dementia.
Warrigal CEO Jenni Hutchins said the plan reflected the organisation’s vision of a world where older people felt known, loved, and connected.
“Behind every diagnosis is a person with a story, relationships, and the right to live with dignity,” Ms Hutchins said.
“This plan is about creating a culture where every older person living with dementia feels valued and included.”
Its plan aligns with the National Dementia Action Plan 2024-2034, which sets out a 10-year roadmap to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.
”What strikes me most is how this work reflects the deeply personal stories that unfold in our communities: moments that remind us why person-centred approaches sit at the heart of who we are,” Ms Hutchins said in her message within the plan.
“The aged care sector is experiencing a fundamental transformation, with contemporary, person-centred dementia care becoming the cornerstone of quality service delivery.
“This shift couldn’t be more timely, as we see an increasing number of our residents living with dementia.”
In the coming weeks, Warrigal teams will begin implementation, guided by a group of dementia leaders to adapt initiatives to the needs of each community.
“This work shows what’s possible when expertise, compassion, and commitment come together,” she said.
“Our staff and volunteers will be at the heart of putting this plan into practice.”
Within the Dementia Action Plan, activities to be adopted include services and education promoting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities and First Nations clients, and offering career pathway options for clinical nurse specialists to become dementia nurse practitioners.
It will also initiate evidence-based interventions to promote wellbeing to prevent dementia among clients, and enhance the wellbeing of those living with dementia and their carers.
This could include cognitive stimulation therapy, physical activity, creative arts activities, intergenerational interventions, technology for social inclusion, and ensuring people living with dementia access wellness clinics.
Regional managers will also work with dementia leads to implement “life story” work across residential aged care services.
Ms Hutchins said the appointment of Professor Victoria Traynor as part of its leadership team reflected its commitment to innovation and determination to lead meaningful change in dementia care.
“Professor Traynor brings not only expertise but also a genuine passion for improving the lives of people living with dementia and their families,” she said.
“This work places Warrigal at the leading edge of evidence-based practices.”
Warrigal’s Dementia Action Plan 2025–2030 is now available online.
