Leticia asks an important question about whether a resident who has been assessed as needing secure dementia level care will be automatically placed into a secure care environment, especially when their family expresses concerns that this level of care may not be necessary.

Richard explains that the team must abide by the findings of the initial assessment, but he emphasises that the process is not inflexible. If, with guidance from the nurse practitioner, the NASC team and the Mental Health team, there are clear indications that the level of care assessment needs to be redone, there are options.  

A key responsibility of the team at Rawhiti Estate is to ensure every resident is safe and well cared for. If it becomes apparent through interim follow-up assessments that secure dementia level care is no longer required, the resident may transition to a non-secure environment and move into one of the aged care facility’s comfortable multi-purpose care suites.