It has been over twelve years since I stepped into the aged care workforce as a carer. I was studying occupational therapy (OT) at the time and had no idea of the profound impact working as a carer would have on my personal and professional life, ultimately leading me to where I am today.
After some time working as a carer I developed a strong passion for supporting older adults and those living with dementia. I loved seeing a smile on my clients faces and being part of the reason why.
Working for some time in the industry, I started to see gaps in the system and in-particularly a lack of understanding around dementia care. I noticed that ongoing dementia training and support was not offered like it needed to be to provide high quality care and support that our clients required. I noticed carer burnout and witnessed situations that made me feel deeply concerned yet helpless. There were many situations as a carer whereby I did not feel adequately educated nor supported to be able to provide the care older people and those living with dementia deserve. And I quickly learnt that many of my colleagues were in the same boat.
I strongly believe that older adults and those living with dementia have the right and need to continue to live a positive and purposeful life up until their final breath. I am aware that a huge part of the equation in helping older people achieve their best quality of life is the carers, family members and support people around them. To provide good quality care, carers need to have access to regular education and support.
Holistic Occupational Therapy was founded in 2018 when I decided to follow my heart and work solely in the aged care and dementia arena. Since then, Jess, Emily, Sophie, Lucy and Cherie have joined the team and we have broadened our reach, providing support to clients in the adult disability, aged care and dementia space across the Eyre Peninsula and beyond!
We are very fortunate to work closely with our clients to achieve their goals. This often involves assisting them to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible. We know for many people living alone in their own home is not possible, and we are proud to be able to offer services and support to people living in residential and other home care settings.
We continue to find ourselves in an extremely privileged position where we get to support people in their own homes and spaces, helping them on their journey to live the best life possible. Occupational therapy is a team sport and there is no better feeling than the feeling you get when you and your clients experience a "win"!!
Thank you for joining us on our journey.
Brooke Moore
Founder & Director
Holistic Occupational Therapy
