Martin Luther Homes secures funding for specialist Dementia Care Unit

Martin Luther Homes, located in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, was formally accepted into the Australian Government’s Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) in Wattle House in early June 2025.

This significant development makes Martin Luther Homes the only provider offering an SDCP unit on the eastern side of Melbourne, servicing a broader region reaching into eastern Victoria. The site was selected through a competitive national tender process and will operate under a five-year Federal Government contract.

As members of the Shared Resource Model, Martin Luther Homes are pleased to share this achievement with you, knowing the work undertaken benefits the broader Lutheran network and sector. The addition of this service also aligns with the ongoing commitment across member organisations to support complex care needs in a compassionate and clinically sound environment.

The program will comprise eight private rooms and a dedicated “bounce back” room, specifically designed to support older people through a period of stabilisation before transitioning back into mainstream aged care or a more suitable long-term setting.

The “bounce back” room provides a temporary place of return for individuals who have previously transitioned from the SDCP into mainstream care but require short-term re-engagement with specialist dementia services due to a recurrence or worsening of symptoms. It ensures continuity of care while avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation and supports a smoother pathway back to their regular care environment once stabilised.

This service will support older persons with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) – such as aggression, severe agitation, constant vocalisation, suicidal ideation, and extreme depression or anxiety – when these symptoms cannot be safely or effectively managed within other care environments, despite the involvement of existing specialist dementia services.

Eligibility Criteria:
To access the SDCP, individuals must:

• Have a diagnosis of dementia
• Exhibit severe BPSD symptoms persisting for at least three months
• Have undergone an Aged Care Assessment
• Have not responded to other dementia support interventions

Referrals will be managed through Dementia Support Australia, and further details are available via the Department of Health website.

This development is a major focus for Martin Luther Homes at present. As a result, CEO Birgit Goetz will be unable to attend this year’s Shared Resource Model Networking Forum, as she and her team are deeply engaged in the preparations to open the unit in the first week of June 2025.

The team at Martin Luther Homes has long been committed to high-quality, person-centred care. This new unit builds on their existing work and represents a step forward in specialised service delivery within our sector. It will not only serve the immediate community but will also be a resource for the wider region and network.

They will be having an open on the 30^th of May that all are welcome to attend.

We congratulate Martin Luther Homes on this milestone and look forward to seeing the service take shape over the coming months.