At Emmaus Village, we believe that every person living with dementia deserves personalised care and support. That’s where Clare Wallace, our dedicated Dementia Support Consultant comes in.
Before joining the Emmaus Village community, Clare meets with prospective residents and their families to learn about the person and their unique experiences with dementia so that when they become part of our community, we understand where they are in their journey. This enables our team to tailor our services to meet the person’s evolving needs as their condition progresses.
Originally from Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, Clare and her family moved to Port Macquarie keen to enjoy the temperate weather and to embrace new opportunities. When Clare applied for and was offered the role as Dementia Support Consultant at Emmaus Village it was an opportunity that seemed meant to be, a perfect match for her credentials.
In this profile, Clare shares her passion for dementia care and what makes Emmaus Village special.
“At this stage, there is no cure for dementia, so my passion and the primary focus of Emmaus Village is to provide care that supports each Villager to live as well as possible in a safe and loving community,” says Clare.
“What makes Emmaus Village truly special is our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for people living with dementia. We achieve this through a person-centred approach and thoughtfully designed environment that fosters connections and comfort,” she adds.
Clare’s expertise is backed by a distinguished education, including a degree in Mental Health from Napier University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Wellbeing of the Older Person from the University of Stirling. She is also qualified a Dementia Specialist Improvement Lead, certified through NHS Education for Scotland.
With experience spanning various care settings – wards, community nursing, and in the home – Clare has honed her skills in diagnostic tools, supporting individuals at the early stages of dementia through her work at a memory clinic.
“This led me to working with people in their home, supporting them and their families across the many stages of dementia including assessing risk and responding to crisis moments as they evolved,” says Claire.
“My career has deepened my passion for working with people who have a diagnosis of dementia, as well as supporting families through building a better understanding of dementia, helping them find effective ways to support their loved one.”
“At Emmaus Village, I am involved with Villagers’ families from the initial conversation we have during the admission process, guiding them through the transition to Emmaus Village, and continuing to provide dementia-specific care and support once they are living in the Village,” says Clare.
“I also provide ongoing education to our staff to ensure we deliver the most current, evidence-based, and highest quality standard of care to our Villagers,” she adds.
Clare highlights that Emmaus Village has been thoughtfully designed with principles that actively support people living with dementia.
“For example, street signs, totems such as surfboards and sculptures, and colour schemes are incorporated into the design to promote familiarity and wayfinding for Villagers”, says Clare.
“The Village’s communal spaces, the activities and events are there to help Villagers feel part of a community – they can take a stroll down the road to the café, shop, or to the potting shed, as they might ordinarily have done in times past”, she adds.
“Daily routines, such as the preparation of meals, in each of our 12 small home environments provide the Villagers who live there with vital social cues about the day. If they want, they can also participate in the preparation of meals and other household activities.”
“Unlike traditional dementia care, the model of care at Emmaus Village focuses on the individual’s needs, wants, and individual rhythm of their day, spent living in a place that feels like home,” concludes Clare. For more information about Emmaus Village visit emmausvillage.org.au
