Richard and Leticia explain what type of incidents could lead to a dementia level care needs assessment and how the team at Rawhiti Estate supports residents who are dealing with dementia or cognitive decline.

They emphasise that the safety and security of residents with dementia is the most important consideration, especially if there’s a risk they may wander and become lost. However, there are also other factors that factor into care decisions. For the team at Rawhiti, it is more about experiences than processes.

In this conversation, Richard and Leticia clarify that a dementia diagnosis alone does not mean a person automatically needs placement in a secure dementia level care unit. Based on the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) evaluation, residents with cognitive decline may be best supported in a multi-purpose care suite or a memory loss unit, depending on their individual condition, behaviour, and potential safety risks.