Dementia care
The Palmer Wing is our dedicated Memory Support Unit providing specialised care for people living with dementia in a safe, supportive and thoughtfully designed environment.
This 14-bed household offers private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms supporting dignity, comfort and personal space while providing the security and reassurance residents need.
Person-centred memory support
Designed to feel calm, familiar and homelike, the Palmer Wing combines a welcoming environment with 24-hour care and support. Residents are encouraged to maintain their identity, routines and connections with a focus on wellbeing, meaningful engagement and quality of life.
Shared living and dining areas promote social connection and participation in everyday life while allowing residents to engage at their own pace.
Our experienced dementia care team works closely with residents, families and representatives to understand each person’s needs, preferences and life story, delivering care that is individualised, respectful and compassionate.
Care and lifestyle
Dementia care approach
- Residents are supported to maintain independence, identity and daily routines within a safe and enabling environment
- Care is delivered by a skilled team with specialist dementia care training and experience
- Our staff are selected for their clinical capability, empathy and ability to respond to changing cognitive needs with understanding and respect
- Support is individualised, with a strong focus on dignity, familiarity, consistency and emotional wellbeing
- Staff work in partnership with residents and families to reduce anxiety and promote comfort, reassurance and quality of life
Therapeutic and meaningful activities
- Therapeutic and reminiscence-based activities designed to support cognitive function and emotional wellbeing
- Everyday meaningful engagement that supports identity and purpose
- Regular gentle movement and exercise sessions to support mobility, strength and wellbeing
- Sensory-based experiences including music, relaxation and hand therapy
- Opportunities for connection through group activities, conversation and shared experiences
- Outings and supported excursions that provide stimulation, enjoyment and connection to the broader community
Weekly lifestyle program
- A flexible weekly program supports routine, stimulation and social connection, while remaining responsive to individual choice and energy levels
- Gentle exercise and movement sessions
- Group cognitive activities and games
- Creative expression through art and craft
- Music-based engagement and reminiscence
- Group discussion and reading sessions
- Regular social events and entertainment experiences
- Therapeutic music sessions supporting relaxation and connection
Living environment
- The Palmer Wing is designed as a calm, familiar and supportive environment that promotes orientation, comfort and independence
- Residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms with familiar furniture, photographs and personal belongings to support identity and recognition
- Light-filled, calming interiors support orientation and wellbeing
- Secure outdoor spaces, including balconies and terraces, provide safe access to fresh air and outdoor connection
- Communal living and dining spaces support social connection, shared meals and participation in daily life
- Accessible bathrooms and thoughtful design features support mobility, safety and independence
- 24-hour call systems and discreet safety technology provide reassurance while supporting independence
What our families say about us
My wife, who has advanced frontotemporal dementia and lives in the Memory Support Unit, has been part of the NeuronsVR therapy program since it began. The wildlife experiences bring her great enjoyment and engagement. Recently, while watching an emu, she said ‘bird’, the first clear descriptive word I can recall her using in several years.
Understanding costs
Aged care costs are generally divided into two main areas: accommodation fees and care fees. You can find out more about them below.
It is important to understand the fees and charges that may apply before entering residential aged care. These costs can vary depending on individual circumstances and the type of care required.
Everyone entering an aged care home pays a basic daily fee, set by the Australian Government. This fee contributes towards day-to-day living costs, such as meals, cleaning, laundry, facilities management and laundry.
The basic daily fee is set at 85% of the single person rate of the Age Pension and is updated by the Government on 20 March and 20 September each year. Current rates are published on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Each aged care provider sets its own accommodation prices.
At Dougherty Apartments, our Refundable Accommodation Deposits range from $650,000 to $910,000 depending on room features.
For detailed accommodation pricing and government-approved room information, visit our listing on My Aged Care.
Depending on eligibility, some or all of your accommodation costs may be met by the Australian Government.
There are two ways you can pay your accommodation:
Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
A lump sum payment for your accommodation paid in full or part. This amount is refundable. Under the Aged Care Act 2024, aged care providers are required to regularly deduct part of each eligible resident’s refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) or refundable accommodation contribution (RAC).
These deducted amounts do not need to be refunded on exit and will help providers continue to provide high quality residential aged care, as well as support improvements and further investment.
Retention amounts must be deducted from a refundable deposit balance throughout the person’s stay in care. They must be deducted at least once in each 3-month period starting on the day the individual paid the refundable deposit but must not be deducted more than once in any one-month period.
The amount to be deducted is calculated daily at a rate of 2% per annum and it is limited to 5 years to protect residents who remain in care for a long time.
Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
Instead of paying a lump sum, the DAP is a daily payment that a resident may pay to cover their accommodation cost. This payment is not refundable.
Combination option
When a resident chooses to pay part of the room cost upfront as a RAD, the rest of the cost is paid as a DAP.
One of two different types of fee arrangements apply if you enter residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025. These may include the following fees and contributions:
- 1 November 2025 fee arrangements – basic daily fee, hotelling contribution, non-clinical care contribution, higher everyday living fee
- 1 July 2014 fee arrangements – basic daily fee, means tested care fee, higher everyday living fee.
Additionally, if you were receiving a Home Care Package or approved and waiting for a package on or before 12 September 2024, and you subsequently move into residential care, you are protected by the ‘no worse off principle’ and will pay fees under the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. Otherwise, you will be on the 1 November 2025 fee arrangements.
Hotelling contribution
This is an additional contribution that some people on 1 November 2025 fee arrangements pay towards daily living services such as meals, cleaning and laundry.
Non-clinical care contribution (NCCC)
This is an amount that some people on 1 November 2025 fee arrangements pay to cover personal care, such as bathing, mobility assistance, and lifestyle activities.
Means tested care fee
This is an amount that some people on 1 July 2014 fee arrangements pay toward the cost of their care.
For full details see My Aged Care – aged care home costs and fees.
Financial support
Government support may be available to help with the cost of residential care. The amount you contribute towards your fees is determined through an assessment of your income and assets by Services Australia.
Further information about aged care fees and financial assessments is available via the My Aged Care website: www.myagedcare.gov.au
You can also use the My Aged Care Residential Care Fee Estimator tool to help estimate expected fees and charges.
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Download nowCommon questions
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Dementia care is specialised support for people living with dementia, designed to help them maintain independence, dignity and quality of life for as long as possible. It is delivered in a safe and structured environment by staff who are specifically trained in dementia care.
Care is tailored to each resident, with a focus on familiar routines, comfort and emotional wellbeing. Residents are supported in a way that meets their changing needs while encouraging meaningful engagement and a sense of connection.
The Palmer Wing has been thoughtfully designed to provide a safe, familiar and supportive environment for people living with dementia. Residents and families are encouraged to personalise their rooms with familiar furniture and decorations to help create a sense of home and continuity.
A structured program of activities is offered to support routine, stimulation and social connection. These activities are tailored to each resident and are designed to support cognitive function, emotional wellbeing and enjoyment, while helping maintain a meaningful daily rhythm.
We recognise that families are an important part of each resident’s care and wellbeing. We encourage regular communication and involvement and work closely with families to ensure they feel informed and supported.
Families are welcome to visit and stay connected with their loved one and are included in care planning and discussions as needs change. Our team is always available to provide updates, answer questions and offer guidance, helping to ensure a collaborative and supportive approach to care.
Thinking about your next step?
Our team is here to help you. Get in touch to discuss what’s right for you.