30-06-2025
Alfredo spent 120 days in hospital because no nursing home would take him
Alfredo de Andrade spent 120 days in Maitland Hospital as a severe dementia patient because no nursing home would take him.
He'd shown high levels of agitation and aggression, so he was put on psychotropic medication to calm him.
The Metford man, who died this month, had initially gone to Maitland Hospital for surgery after he fell and broke his hip.
He was transferred to Kurri Kurri Hospital for recovery.
"While he was there, he caught COVID," son Paulo de Andrade said.
While at Kurri, Alfredo's aggressive behaviour meant he was transferred back to Maitland.
"It was a concern that Dad was taking up an acute bed in a major hospital," Paulo said.
"But he simply couldn't return home, and we couldn't find a place in a nursing home that could take care of him.
"The hospital tried very hard to find a place for Dad. Eventually he did find a place at HammondCare's dementia village at Cardiff."
He went into care at the village's eight-bed Quintral Cottage.
It is part of the federal government's Special Dementia Care Program (SDCP) for patients with severe symptoms.
There are 22 federally-funded SDCP units in Australia and 35 planned in total by 2026.
Paulo said the family wanted Alfredo to "have the best quality of life possible in his remaining time".
"The plan was to get him off the psychiatric medication, as he was in a safe environment," Paulo said.
"As this was done, his aggression came down considerably."
After about 12 months at Quintral, he was able to move into a regular cottage at Cardiff.
"He became stable, could take instructions from the carers and was happy," Paulo said.
Over-medicating elderly patients with dementia - so-called "chemical restraints" - is a controversial topic.
Two recent royal commissions found psychotropic medicines were being "misused and overused", particularly among older people and those with a disability.
Nonetheless, Paulo accepts that his dad was medicated at hospital for "his own safety".
"I'm not saying it's wrong, it's the way it is," he said.
"It's difficult for medical staff to get the medication mix right because every individual is different. They have to get a balance and see how they react."
Paulo said the staff treating his dad at hospital were "magnificent".
However, there were not enough publicly funded dementia places.
"The public needs to be more aware of this because dementia cases are rising," he said.
"There needs to be more public pressure on politicians for funding and resources for this."
Alfredo migrated to Newcastle from Portugal in 1981, along with his wife Maria and their three children.
He worked as a boilermaker at Allco Steel at Tomago.
As a metal worker, he fabricated steel for projects such as the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Chifley Tower and the Sydney Monorail.
"Dad was hard-working, kind and caring, who loved his family and friends," Paulo said.
"He was brave to bring his family halfway around the world to start a new life."
Paulo said it was hard seeing his dad go through severe dementia.
"I'm thankful there are places that can take these patients and care for them safely. We need more of them."
Federal aged care Minister Sam Rae more than 400,000 people were living with dementia in Australia.
This was expected to "double by 2058".
"We're working to deliver support that gives people with dementia the dignified care and quality of life they deserve," Mr Rae said.
The government had allocated $57 million "to support older patients with dementia to transition out of hospital into aged care".
Alfredo de Andrade spent 120 days in Maitland Hospital as a severe dementia patient because no nursing home would take him.
He'd shown high levels of agitation and aggression, so he was put on psychotropic medication to calm him.
The Metford man, who died this month, had initially gone to Maitland Hospital for surgery after he fell and broke his hip.
He was transferred to Kurri Kurri Hospital for recovery.
"While he was there, he caught COVID," son Paulo de Andrade said.
While at Kurri, Alfredo's aggressive behaviour meant he was transferred back to Maitland.
"It was a concern that Dad was taking up an acute bed in a major hospital," Paulo said.
"But he simply couldn't return home, and we couldn't find a place in a nursing home that could take care of him.
"The hospital tried very hard to find a place for Dad. Eventually he did find a place at HammondCare's dementia village at Cardiff."
He went into care at the village's eight-bed Quintral Cottage.
It is part of the federal government's Special Dementia Care Program (SDCP) for patients with severe symptoms.
There are 22 federally-funded SDCP units in Australia and 35 planned in total by 2026.
Paulo said the family wanted Alfredo to "have the best quality of life possible in his remaining time".
"The plan was to get him off the psychiatric medication, as he was in a safe environment," Paulo said.
"As this was done, his aggression came down considerably."
After about 12 months at Quintral, he was able to move into a regular cottage at Cardiff.
"He became stable, could take instructions from the carers and was happy," Paulo said.
Over-medicating elderly patients with dementia - so-called "chemical restraints" - is a controversial topic.
Two recent royal commissions found psychotropic medicines were being "misused and overused", particularly among older people and those with a disability.
Nonetheless, Paulo accepts that his dad was medicated at hospital for "his own safety".
"I'm not saying it's wrong, it's the way it is," he said.
"It's difficult for medical staff to get the medication mix right because every individual is different. They have to get a balance and see how they react."
Paulo said the staff treating his dad at hospital were "magnificent".
However, there were not enough publicly funded dementia places.
"The public needs to be more aware of this because dementia cases are rising," he said.
"There needs to be more public pressure on politicians for funding and resources for this."
Alfredo migrated to Newcastle from Portugal in 1981, along with his wife Maria and their three children.
He worked as a boilermaker at Allco Steel at Tomago.
As a metal worker, he fabricated steel for projects such as the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Chifley Tower and the Sydney Monorail.
"Dad was hard-working, kind and caring, who loved his family and friends," Paulo said.
"He was brave to bring his family halfway around the world to start a new life."
Paulo said it was hard seeing his dad go through severe dementia.
"I'm thankful there are places that can take these patients and care for them safely. We need more of them."
Federal aged care Minister Sam Rae more than 400,000 people were living with dementia in Australia.
This was expected to "double by 2058".
"We're working to deliver support that gives people with dementia the dignified care and quality of life they deserve," Mr Rae said.
The government had allocated $57 million "to support older patients with dementia to transition out of hospital into aged care".
Alfredo de Andrade spent 120 days in Maitland Hospital as a severe dementia patient because no nursing home would take him.
He'd shown high levels of agitation and aggression, so he was put on psychotropic medication to calm him.
The Metford man, who died this month, had initially gone to Maitland Hospital for surgery after he fell and broke his hip.
He was transferred to Kurri Kurri Hospital for recovery.
"While he was there, he caught COVID," son Paulo de Andrade said.
While at Kurri, Alfredo's aggressive behaviour meant he was transferred back to Maitland.
"It was a concern that Dad was taking up an acute bed in a major hospital," Paulo said.
"But he simply couldn't return home, and we couldn't find a place in a nursing home that could take care of him.
"The hospital tried very hard to find a place for Dad. Eventually he did find a place at HammondCare's dementia village at Cardiff."
He went into care at the village's eight-bed Quintral Cottage.
It is part of the federal government's Special Dementia Care Program (SDCP) for patients with severe symptoms.
There are 22 federally-funded SDCP units in Australia and 35 planned in total by 2026.
Paulo said the family wanted Alfredo to "have the best quality of life possible in his remaining time".
"The plan was to get him off the psychiatric medication, as he was in a safe environment," Paulo said.
"As this was done, his aggression came down considerably."
After about 12 months at Quintral, he was able to move into a regular cottage at Cardiff.
"He became stable, could take instructions from the carers and was happy," Paulo said.
Over-medicating elderly patients with dementia - so-called "chemical restraints" - is a controversial topic.
Two recent royal commissions found psychotropic medicines were being "misused and overused", particularly among older people and those with a disability.
Nonetheless, Paulo accepts that his dad was medicated at hospital for "his own safety".
"I'm not saying it's wrong, it's the way it is," he said.
"It's difficult for medical staff to get the medication mix right because every individual is different. They have to get a balance and see how they react."
Paulo said the staff treating his dad at hospital were "magnificent".
However, there were not enough publicly funded dementia places.
"The public needs to be more aware of this because dementia cases are rising," he said.
"There needs to be more public pressure on politicians for funding and resources for this."
Alfredo migrated to Newcastle from Portugal in 1981, along with his wife Maria and their three children.
He worked as a boilermaker at Allco Steel at Tomago.
As a metal worker, he fabricated steel for projects such as the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Chifley Tower and the Sydney Monorail.
"Dad was hard-working, kind and caring, who loved his family and friends," Paulo said.
"He was brave to bring his family halfway around the world to start a new life."
Paulo said it was hard seeing his dad go through severe dementia.
"I'm thankful there are places that can take these patients and care for them safely. We need more of them."
Federal aged care Minister Sam Rae more than 400,000 people were living with dementia in Australia.
This was expected to "double by 2058".
"We're working to deliver support that gives people with dementia the dignified care and quality of life they deserve," Mr Rae said.
The government had allocated $57 million "to support older patients with dementia to transition out of hospital into aged care".
Alfredo de Andrade spent 120 days in Maitland Hospital as a severe dementia patient because no nursing home would take him.
He'd shown high levels of agitation and aggression, so he was put on psychotropic medication to calm him.
The Metford man, who died this month, had initially gone to Maitland Hospital for surgery after he fell and broke his hip.
He was transferred to Kurri Kurri Hospital for recovery.
"While he was there, he caught COVID," son Paulo de Andrade said.
While at Kurri, Alfredo's aggressive behaviour meant he was transferred back to Maitland.
"It was a concern that Dad was taking up an acute bed in a major hospital," Paulo said.
"But he simply couldn't return home, and we couldn't find a place in a nursing home that could take care of him.
"The hospital tried very hard to find a place for Dad. Eventually he did find a place at HammondCare's dementia village at Cardiff."
He went into care at the village's eight-bed Quintral Cottage.
It is part of the federal government's Special Dementia Care Program (SDCP) for patients with severe symptoms.
There are 22 federally-funded SDCP units in Australia and 35 planned in total by 2026.
Paulo said the family wanted Alfredo to "have the best quality of life possible in his remaining time".
"The plan was to get him off the psychiatric medication, as he was in a safe environment," Paulo said.
"As this was done, his aggression came down considerably."
After about 12 months at Quintral, he was able to move into a regular cottage at Cardiff.
"He became stable, could take instructions from the carers and was happy," Paulo said.
Over-medicating elderly patients with dementia - so-called "chemical restraints" - is a controversial topic.
Two recent royal commissions found psychotropic medicines were being "misused and overused", particularly among older people and those with a disability.
Nonetheless, Paulo accepts that his dad was medicated at hospital for "his own safety".
"I'm not saying it's wrong, it's the way it is," he said.
"It's difficult for medical staff to get the medication mix right because every individual is different. They have to get a balance and see how they react."
Paulo said the staff treating his dad at hospital were "magnificent".
However, there were not enough publicly funded dementia places.
"The public needs to be more aware of this because dementia cases are rising," he said.
"There needs to be more public pressure on politicians for funding and resources for this."
Alfredo migrated to Newcastle from Portugal in 1981, along with his wife Maria and their three children.
He worked as a boilermaker at Allco Steel at Tomago.
As a metal worker, he fabricated steel for projects such as the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Chifley Tower and the Sydney Monorail.
"Dad was hard-working, kind and caring, who loved his family and friends," Paulo said.
"He was brave to bring his family halfway around the world to start a new life."
Paulo said it was hard seeing his dad go through severe dementia.
"I'm thankful there are places that can take these patients and care for them safely. We need more of them."
Federal aged care Minister Sam Rae more than 400,000 people were living with dementia in Australia.
This was expected to "double by 2058".
"We're working to deliver support that gives people with dementia the dignified care and quality of life they deserve," Mr Rae said.
The government had allocated $57 million "to support older patients with dementia to transition out of hospital into aged care".
