The Dementia Rehabilitation Program supports people with dementia and their carers to get back to enjoying life.
Delivered by Encara, the free in-home Dementia Rehabilitation Program aims to improve access to allied health-led rehabilitation activities to support independence and wellbeing. Led by a team of Allied Health Professionals, the program combines therapeutic interventions, education, and personalised care, integrating allied health with aromatherapy, art therapy and music therapy.
What is Dementia Rehabilitation?
The World Health Organisation defines rehabilitation as “a set of interventions designed to optimise functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions (not just after an acute event) in interaction with their environment.”
Rehabilitation helps people to maximise their independence, relationships, and quality of life. It gives people opportunities to retain or regain skills and activities they may have lost or be at risk of losing. Rehabilitation includes supporting people to develop alternate strategies and supporting care partners.
Why is the program needed?
Dementia is a significant and growing health and aged care issue in Australia that has a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of people with the condition, as well as their family and friends. As the condition progresses, the functional ability of an individual with dementia declines, eventually resulting in the reliance on care providers for all aspects of daily living.
In south eastern Melbourne, approximately 11,000 people are living with a diagnosis of dementia, with nearly a third of this group residing in the LGAs of the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the City of Casey.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care and Dementia Guidelines recommend optimising independence and wellbeing through access to allied health professionals. Without treatment, people with dementia may decline faster and enter aged care facilities earlier.
Who is eligible?
People aged 65+ years old living with dementia in the following Local Government Areas are eligible:
- Mornington Peninsula Shire
- The City of Casey
- The City of Greater Dandenong
- The City of Frankston
- The City of Kingston
What does the program provide?
The Dementia Rehabilitation Program runs across 12 weeks and offers personalised care, evidence-based interventions, and a collaborative approach to empower individuals living with dementia.
The program includes:
- Expert team of caring professionals specialised in dementia care
- Personalised interventions to promote independence and quality of life
- Home visits by Occupational Therapists to assess and support daily living activities
- Podiatry assessment and ongoing therapy for comfortable footwear and overall foot care
- Physiotherapy sessions to improve balance, strength, and mobility
- Access to additional allied health services, including Dietetics and Speech Therapy
- Aromatherapy, Art Therapy and Music Therapy
- Ongoing education and support for participants and their families
Refer now
- Health Professionals can complete Encara's referral form here
- Contact Encara on
1300 761 965 or email
dementia@encara.com.au for further information about the program.
The Dementia Rehabilitation Program is delivered by Encara and funded by South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.
This mind map is a printable one page resource with the most important information for someone recently diagnosed with dementia, or their caregiver/family member. It includes phone numbers to essential dementia support services and organisations
To download the resource, click the button below.
Download and display the Dementia Rehabilitation Program Posters
Posters for General Practices to display in their waiting rooms and share with patients.
Download and Display the Dementia Rehabilitation Program Posters
Posters for Community Health Organisations to display and share with their clients.
Download the Living Well With Dementia Resource
A brochure has been created by the National Centre for Healthy Ageing ( a Commonwealth Funded partnership between Peninsula Health and Monash University) to provide details of how Allied Health and Dementia Rehabilitation can help people with dementia.
Click this link to download the web version - Living Well With Dementia
Download a printable version by clicking on the button below.
For more information on the Dementia Rehabilitation program, please contact agedcare@semphn.org.au
South Eastern Melbourne PHN
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