Home advantage: How brain-health support delays entry to aged care

The overwhelming desire of older Australians to remain in their homes is driving new research into proactive brain health support, with findings suggesting that early intervention may significantly delay entry into residential aged care.

HammondCare, a leader in complex dementia care, has been focusing its program and research efforts on the nation’s retirement living space, where a significant proportion of residents are either already living with dementia or will develop it.

Marie Alford, Hammondare’s general manager of growth and innovation national programs, said this approach not only enhances quality of life for individuals but offers a solution to ever-increasing pressures on Australia’s aged and health care sectors.

“Everybody wants to stay in their home environment, [...] near to the people that they love and care for, close to their community and around their own belongings,” she said.

“Home is really that place of safety and security.

“It’s those well-worn pathways from our front door to our lounge room, to our kitchen, to our bedroom, to our bathroom.”

Two-thirds of people living with dementia in Australia still live at home, making these communities a vital area for intervention. The goal is to support individuals to stay in their preferred environment for as long as possible.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that by 2066, it is projected that people aged 65 and over will make up between 21 and 23 per cent of the total population, compared to 8.3 per cent in 1970.

This is why, Ms Alford explained, the benefits of enabling older Australians to live well in their own homes extend beyond individual preference.

Successfully supporting people to remain in their own residences for longer periods can alleviate the growing burden on the aged care and health sectors, making this preventative approach particularly pertinent given that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia.

Good for the heart, good for the head

HammondCare’s research project involves working with retirement living providers, exploring what proactive brain health support looks like within these settings.

A key component is to educate communities on brain health, including modifiable risk factors, and to actively reduce the stigma associated with dementia.

Modifiable risk factors include diet, alcohol intake, physical activity, social engagement and sleep quality.

“There are some forms of dementia that regardless of modifiable factors will still happen,” Ms Alford said.

“Age is the biggest contributing factor to developing dementia. So the longer you live, the higher your risk of developing dementia is.

“However, there is evidence to suggest that making changes according to these modifiable risk factors may delay the incidence of developing some forms of dementia. If someone was going to develop dementia in their late 70s or early 80s, and we can push that out by five or seven or 10 years using some of these lifestyle changes, that’s a great outcome. That gives them more time to live well, but also the opportunity for drug treatments to catch up with dementia.”

Rapid response and family coaching

For those experiencing early cognitive changes, HammondCare’s research initiates early service navigation and planning, helping to identify changes in behaviour that might impact living independently within the retirement setting.

The objective is to develop evidence about how to delay entry into residential care and how to reduce the number of avoidable hospitalisations and presentations to acute care setting. This is achieved by empowering families and carers with the knowledge and tools to manage changes effectively and, consequently, extend the period of independent living.

“Proactive support is about engaging early with the people that are living there and their families to identify early changes to cognition,” Ms Alford explained

“We want to make sure that we’re supporting these communities with brain health, so that they understand some of those modifiable risk factors, and we really start to reduce the stigma of what dementia is.”

The work also includes providing staff and community education on what happens when someone develops dementia, and how best to communicate with and support them.

“A diagnosis of dementia doesn’t mean you can’t live well and live better,” Ms Alford said.

“We’ve seen great evidence of that when people who are diagnosed with dementia change their diets, start to move more, and become more socially engaged. [These changes] can slow down the progression of some forms of dementia, but it also keeps them more engaged and increases their wellbeing.”

By focusing on early identification, stigma reduction, and responsive support, HammondCare’s work aims to provide a pathway for more older Australians to enjoy the benefits of living at home longer, while simultaneously easing the strain on the broader aged care system.

HammondCare and partners will present their findings at the International Dementia Conference in Sydney in June, offering insights into how proactive, community-based interventions can make a tangible difference for people living independently.

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For more information about International Dementia Conference 2026, or to register your attendance, visit the website here.