Elena House - Respite for People with Younger Onset Dementia
Beautifully appointed respite care specifically catering for people aged 40-65 with young onset dementia. We believe care should feel personal, dignified and age appropriate, more like a home than a hospital.
About Elena House
Elena House exists to redefine respite care for people living with younger onset dementia by offering person centred care. We provide a calm, age appropriate, home-like environment - where clients are supported with dignity, empathy, and meaningful engagement.
We believe respite should feel like a break for everyone - the client and their families - not a step into a clinical or aged care facility.
We have a team of highly dedicated and experienced carers who will look after your loved ones as if they were family and are highly trained in young onset dementia.
You can choose between day stay or overnight visits, STA and MTA. We cater for up to 6 people during the day and 4 guests overnight.
We also can provide in-home respite care if required. Please enquire by sending us a message.
Younger Onset Dementia Care, Designed Around You. We tailor our care to each person’s type of dementia, individual symptoms, abilities and preferences. Support is provided one-to-one or in small groups, with activities, meals and rest planned together.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common dementia. It usually starts with memory and word-finding changes, then can affect planning, attention, confidence and mood.
How we support at Elena House
Days with rhythm, not rigidity: predictable plans, gentle reminders, no surprises.
Cognitive stimulation (CST-style): short, enjoyable sessions—conversation, music, puzzles, hands-on tasks— always supportive, never exam-like.
Memory supports: personalised cue cards, photo prompts, structured routines (spaced-retrieval, checklists).
Movement & nature: walks at Angophora Reserve, light strength/balance, pool/spa when safe (supervised).
Food & social connection: fresh, home-style meals; small groups or 1:1 as preferred.
Family friendly: partners can stay for a cuppa, lunch, or overnight by arrangement.
Note : We don’t give exam-style tasks (no pop quizzes, no “remember these three words in five minutes,” no timers, no scores or comparisons).
Activities are supportive and enjoyable—conversation, music, puzzles, creative tasks—not pass/fail.
We observe gently (engagement, comfort, what worked) and adjust the plan; any optional baseline checks are done privately, with consent, never during sessions or in a way that feels like an exam.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
LBD often brings fluctuations (good and not-so-good periods in a day), visual hallucinations, REM-sleep changes, and Parkinson’s-type movement (stiffness, slowness). Sensitivity to some medicines is common.
How we support at Elena House
Calm, clear spaces: good lighting, minimal visual clutter, strong orientation cues.
Flexible scheduling: we match sessions to “best-alert” times and allow quiet recovery windows.
Movement & mobility: Parkinson’s-aware stretching, balance and cueing; careful fall-risk management.
Reality-gentle approach: we respond to hallucinations with reassurance, redirection and comfort, not confrontation.
Sleep routine: consistent evening wind-down; no alcohol on site; spa only when safe; partner strategies for nights.
* information is general and does not replace medical advice
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is linked to blood-flow changes in the brain (strokes or small-vessel disease). Thinking speed, attention and planning are often more affected than memory at first; progress can feel “step-wise.”
How we support at Elena House
Energy-smart pacing: shorter activity blocks with calm breaks; written plans and visual steps for tasks.
Executive-function supports: budgeting/cooking/mapping tasks with checklists, timers and goal sheets.
Heart-healthy habits: gentle aerobic exercise, balance work; hydration and sensible routines around sleep and meals.
Confidence builders: success-first activities (garden, music, toolbox sorting), then gradual complexity.
Safety first: fall-aware layouts, clear signage; pool/spa only when appropriate and supervised.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
(behavioural-variant bvFTD and language-led variants)
FTD often starts younger.
bvFTD: changes in behaviour, initiative, empathy or judgment; more impulsivity or rigid routines.
Language variants (PPA): word-finding, grammar or meaning difficulties while memory can seem relatively okay early.
How we support at Elena House
High structure, low friction: clear day plan on a board; simple house rules; choices (A/B) instead of open-ended demands.
Positive redirection: purposeful, hands-on tasks (cooking prep, small projects, music sets) to channel energy.
Social-cognition support (bvFTD): gentle emotion-reading games, turn-taking activities, predictable group norms.
Communication support (PPA): SLT-style scripts, written/picture cues, communication books; slow pace and gestures.
Carer coaching: practical strategies for home—environment tweaks, routines, cueing, and stress-reduction.
A Message from our Founder
My name is Susie Mills, I'm the founder and managing director of Elena House, named for resilient females in my life. It is a home to honour my late husband, who I cared for in this house with an amazing group of people who have joined me to support Elena House in its next phase of life. It is also a place to remember my parents, who lived with Alzheimer's disease and the effect it had on both their lives.
With an MBA in entrepreneurship and many years in pharmaceuticals, I bring both clinical literacy and commercial rigour to compassionate care. I am currently completing a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability), alongside doctoral research in return to work strategies for females re engaging in leadership.
Our Elena House Team
Susie Mills - Caregiver Champion
I lead our Caregiver Team, supporting families, coordinating onboarding and answering care questions, while completing my Certificate III qualification.
Daniel Franzoni - Support Carer
Hi, I’m Daniel. I bring dedication, patience, and enthusiasm to my work as a carer of people with YOD, I focus on creating safe and positive environments.
Katerina Pretty - Director of Activities
I am people centric and am passionate about customer service and care. I have a cert 3 in Aged Care and Disability and especially like helping clients with personal care.
Haley Lewis - Area of Interest - LBD
Hi, I'm Hayley with 33 years experience and 5 specifically in dementia care. I excel in behaviour care, personal care and emotional regulation. I build trust and autonomy while creating meaningful daily moments.
Sophie Timothy - Registered Nurse
Hello I'm Sophie and nursing is my passion as it allows me to provide compassionate, safe and respectful care using my skills of empathy, clinical background and positivity. If I can make a positive difference to someone's day I'll do all I can to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, our home sits in a quiet residential pocket with sweeping views of Pittwater. Angophora Reserve is just a short stroll away—perfect for guests who’d like a gentle walk in nature.
We have a dedicated team of highly experienced carers who have specialist knowledge in dementia and specifically Younger Onset Dementia. Our team is here to make your stay as enjoyable as possible and our range of backgrounds and interests mean you will have plenty of different people to support you during your stay with us at Elena House.
We tailor every stay to the person. Our Director of Activities designs individual programs around each client’s background, abilities and interests. Options include music and singing, art and craft, cooking and baking, gentle exercise (yoga or chair-based), water aerobics and more. If something would make your stay better and we can safely offer it, we’ll find a way to make it happen.
We tailor every stay to the level of support you need—no two guests are the same. Staffing ratios are set individually after assessment:
Daytime: 1:1 care up for all our clients
Overnight: from 1:1 care up to a maximum of 1:2
We welcome NDIS (plan- or self-managed) and private funding. Pricing meets all NDIS regulations and is discussed at a friendly meet-and-greet once we understand your needs.
We have strong experience with Younger Onset Dementia (YOD) and provide the higher or fluctuating levels of support many people with YOD require, especially at night time when sleep can be interrupted.
Yes we are in the process of becoming NDIS accredited but we are able to accept NDIS plan or self-managed clients or privately funded.
We understand that getting a confirmed Younger Onset Dementia diagnosis can take time, and securing NDIS funding is often a long process. If you are still undiagnosed or not yet funded, please reach out—we’re happy to discuss options and how we can support you in the meantime. See our section on Private Pricing in the home bar.
We share our home with two beautiful, very friendly Golden Retrievers—Diego, formerly my husband’s companion dog—who loves pats and (ever-hopeful) snack patrols. Paloma is our 1 year old Golden who is learning her manners and to be a great therapy dog in the future. If you’d prefer a dog-free space, we can easily settle them in a private area during your stay.
Subject to other guests’ preferences, you’re welcome to bring a friendly, well-behaved dog for overnight stays. Just let us know in advance so we can plan the best setup for everyone.
We do everything we can to make a stay at Elena House as stress-free as possible. Respite is for both the person living with dementia and their carer, and our goal is for everyone to leave feeling rested and supported. We use a gentle, unrushed approach to settling guests in. If a partner would like to stay for morning tea, lunch, or even overnight, that’s possible—and encouraged. Please ask at your meet-and-greet so we can plan the best setup for you both.
At Elena House there’s no strict timetable—and no surprises. We plan the day with each guest: the activities they enjoy, the foods they like, when they prefer to eat, and whether they’d like company or a quieter mealtime.
Our caterer, Susie, prepares everything from scratch using farm-fresh produce delivered locally, and we tailor menus to each guest’s dietary needs. Guests are warmly invited to join Susie in the kitchen for freshly prepared lunch, plus morning and afternoon tea. We charge a very reasonable Hospitality Package of $40 per day.
For overnight stays, a freshly cooked breakfast is available any time between 7.00 am and 9.00 am every day.
No sorry. To keep everyone safe and comfortable, we don’t serve alcohol and we ask that guests and visitors don’t bring it onto the property. Many guests take medications that interact with alcohol, and it can affect cognition and behaviour—so maintaining a calm, inclusive environment is our priority.
For celebrations, we’re happy to offer non-alcoholic options (sparkling, mocktails, special desserts). If you have questions about this policy, please chat with us before your visit.
Yes—when it’s safe to do so, with supervision and at set times. To keep the experience comfortable for everyone:
A quick safety check (medications, mobility, skin/wound status) and consent are required.
Staff supervise all pool/sauna/spa use; we may limit numbers or session length to maintain safety.
Please bring swimwear and a towel; shower before entry. No glassware in the area.
For the spa, we keep sessions short and skip it if there are health risks (e.g., open wounds, fever, certain heart conditions).
Weather and other guests’ needs may affect access on the day.
If you’d like, a care partner can join by arrangement.