Group Homes Australia offers specialised residential care for elderly and vulnerable adults in the community. The homes provide support 24 hours a day for residents of all ages. Services include respite care, dementia care and palliative care. The philosophy behind Group Homes Australia is that people should live and thrive in the environment they know and love.
Group homes
Group Homes Australia is a nonprofit organization that helps people with a wide range of ages live safely in a comfortable and supportive home environment. They offer palliative, dementia, and respite care in homes located in ordinary suburbs across Australia. Residents can live in these homes on a full or part-time basis, and all are supported around the clock.
Supported living
A recent comparison of supported living and group homes found little difference between the two models. In fact, the Group Homes Australia quality of life (QOL) of participants in both models was mediocre. While 30-35% of group home participants had the potential to live independently, they had similar levels of disability.
Respite care
Respite care is an excellent option for busy caregivers who need a break from caring for a family member. However, it is important to choose a care provider carefully. It is critical that the care home is sanitary, clean, and comfortable. The staff must be compassionate and friendly.
Individualised care
In order to provide personalised care for group home residents, Group Homes Australia uses a multidisciplinary team approach. Social workers and clinical staff work together to support each resident’s health needs. The group home uses Salesforce to create detailed profiles of each resident, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Carers can access these profiles and make changes when necessary without disrupting the resident’s care.
Cost
The cost of group homes varies significantly across Australia. Even as the NDIS nears full implementation, these large differences remain. Most group homes are small, single-storey dwellings, and they tend to be in remote locations far from services, social networks, and transport. In addition, a standardised design of a group home allows for significant building efficiencies, but this is offset by the cost of land in urban areas.
Comparison with neighbouring houses
Group homes are not a uniform experience across Australia, and there are significant variations. Even as the NDIS rolls out nationwide, these differences remain significant. Many group homes are not built to the same standards as their neighbouring houses, and they may not even be the best fit for their intended function. The recent announcement of SDA funding is expected to create new group homes, but there are risks involved.