A 67-year-old resident at HammondCare Horsley’s special dementia care unit, known as Hart cottage, would only leave his room at mealtime if Hungry Jacks Whopper burgers were on the menu.

The resident was referred to the 8-bed Hart cottage in October last year after being approved a place under the Australian Government’s Special Dementia Care Program (SDCP).

Hart cottage, which opened in September, provides individualised care for people experiencing severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. These symptoms mean the residents cannot be cared for in a mainstream aged care setting.

An ongoing concern was the man’s reluctance to leave his room. The exception was when a NDIS worker took him to Hungry Jacks for a Whopper and chips. At other times, he would stay in his room eating little more than his other favourite, peaches.

Staff members thought innovatively about ways to encourage him to join the other cottage residents for special mealtimes. The result was a “fake away.”

Special Dementia Care program manager Stacey Nailer arranged with Hungry Jacks, Silvania a donation of boxes.

The Whopper recipe and presentation was studied closely and a replica burger and chips, served in the authentic box, was produced at the cottage mealtime for the resident to enjoy.

“We found it a challenge to engage one of our residents to join the residents of the cottage for meals,” Ms Nailer said.

“So, the great minds of our clinical cohort came up with a plan, fake away, and what a success!”

Ms Nailer expressed a big thankyou to Sylvania Hungry Jacks for their donation.

HammondCare Operations Manager Jodie O’Sullivan said the man’s case demonstrated the type of innovative thinking often required to meet the special needs of residents experiencing severe behaviours.

“We note his engagement with others has increased, he has settled into cottage life well, and his enjoyment of life has improved,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

The Hart cottage is one of six special dementia care units operated by HammondCare.