For some time, the ‘Rethink Respite’ project has been working hard at improving take-up of respite among carers of people with dementia in Illawarra, NSW. As part of this it has developed some really good resources on respite for people with dementia, which are available on its website here. The project is now launching a new national study which will involve offering a series of online education and support sessions for carers to encourage them to give respite a try. Carers who are interested in accessing this sort of support are encouraged to find out more here.
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How do I choose?
The Alzheimer’s Australia (Victoria) library has been producing an interesting blog on all thing related to dementia resources for a few years now (it’s worth a look any time). In November they’ve put out a list of 20 of the most borrowed items from the Alzheimer’s Australia libraries during 2016. They say they’ve chosen the list based on four criteria: it’s well written, gets consistently good feedback from borrowers, positive reviews from professionals, and that the library staff love it – something like ‘We recommend…’ stickers in book shops. So, perhaps you might find a Christmas present ideas or two here?! The list includes a range of books: personal accounts of living with dementia (‘Green Vanilla Tea’ by Marie Williams), fiction (‘Still Alice’ by Lisa Genova), DVDs and guides. https://dementiaresources.org.au/2016/11/15/how-do-i-choose/
Clinical Practice Guidelines on Dementia
This year saw an important breakthrough – the launch of Australia’s first Clinical Practice Guidelines on dementia, to give guidance on best practice in dementia care in Australia.
Now, an adapted version of these guidelines – aimed at people with dementia and carers – has been published. The 20-page guide is easy to read and sets out clearly what people with dementia and carers can expect: on diagnosis, assessment, care and support at home, advance care planning, and healthy living. The guide includes short lists of practical questions that people with dementia or carers can ask, for example, ‘Questions to ask about diagnosis’ or ‘Questions to ask about community services’.
The guidelines were developed with input from people living with dementia and carers working with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre in Sydney, the same group that developed the Guidelines. The guide is available to download online and is called A consumer companion guide to the Clinical Practice Guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia.
Australian Journal of Dementia Care
It comes out 6 times a year and is aimed at professional staff working with or supporting people with dementia – in hospitals, nursing and residential care homes, day facilities and the community.
You can download a free sample to take a look – just go to the Journal’s website. Sample articles from back issues are also available to read.
The Journal includes news and views, research, practice and resource updates, and events listings.
It’s published by Hawker Publications, the same company behind the UK Journal of Dementia Care.
Dementia Training Australia Guest Lecture – ‘Optimising Social Health of Older Persons Living with Dementia’
Thursday 10 November 2016
5.00pm – 6.30pm (Registration from 4.30pm)
Registering for this event is essential – please click here to view the flyer for further information and how to register
One man turned nursing home design on its head
Image source: Upworthy.com
92-year-old Norma had a strange and heartbreaking routine.
Every night around 5:30 p.m., she stood up and told the staff at her Ohio nursing home that she needed to leave. When they asked why, she said she needed to go home to take care of her mother. Her mom, of course, had long since passed away.
Behavior like Norma’s is quite common for older folks suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Walter, another man in the same assisted living facility, demanded breakfast from the staff every night around 7:30.
Jean Makesh, CEO of Lantern assisted living facilities, says he meets folks with stories like these every day. It’s their stories that inspired him to make some changes at Lantern.
“I thought I knew a lot about elderly care. The more and more time I was spending with my clients, that’s when I realized, ‘Oh my god, I have no clue.'”
Australian-first guide for carers on respite launched
A new national guide to respite services for carers of people with dementia has been launched to support carers to be informed and make decisions about respite by drawing on the powerful stories of other informal carers.
Click here to read full article from the Australian Ageing Agenda
Click here to download a copy of the guide
The bold new experiment changing the way we treat dementia
Image: Daily Telegraph
IN a small town, about 30 minutes drive from Amsterdam, a woman in her late 80s is having her hair done. She sits in silence as the hairdresser talks about her day and gives her a blow-dry. It’s unlikely she remembers what the word “haircut” means – she’s no longer able to communicate verbally – but the hot air, the sound of the blow-dryer and the feeling of hands running through her hair are familiar and comforting.
New Alzheimer’s Therapy Shows Promise in Reducing Amyloid Plaques in Brain
“This is the best news that we have had in our 25 years and it brings new hope to patients with this disease,” said Dr. Alfred Sandrock, from the Massachusetts-based biotech company Biogen. Read the full article here
WIN NEWS Dementia Information Day Sunshine Coast Nambour