As another year comes to an end, and christmas nears, for me, and for many of us, our grief reappears, sometimes in painful and unexpected ways. To have have loved, means you will grieve… It if is a first Christmas since someone you loved has died, it will likely be one of the toughest, and…
The University of Wollongong (UOW) has developed a program to ensure their community of students and staff are included, valued and respected. This is so much better than the dementia friendly initiatives, which has done so little to improve the respect and inclusion of people with dementia. Not have these initiatives reduced the stigma, discrimination,…
Anyone who has followed me here for a while will know that in 2008, following a diagnosis made by my neurologist of a young onset dementia, I was advised to prepare to die, via aged care respite, which I ultimately trademarked as, Prescribed Disengagement. I was not supported to live well, or positively at all,…
Back in 2011 when I first started writing for this blog, I wrote a short piece about making sense of dementia. I’d just spent time with Christine Bryden, and a group of care providers, who all appeared commiitted to making change. Over time, I have edited and updated it to reflect the many changes that…
There are many thing to consider and discuss on the topic os music and dementia, as mostly, professionals talk about music and dementia as if it a ‘solution’ to engagement, to loneliness, and so on, in the same way reminiscence therapy is often used and discussed. Music as therapy and engagement is a huge area…
Integrity versus Honesty can mean different things to different people. From my perspective, both are extremely important, and the biggest test of integrity, is doing the right thing, when no one is looking, and to me, is what integrity means in real life. The way we act, not the words we say. Words are cheap.…
In a post titled “Surprised by my anger” written by a dear friend Chrissy last year, the quote I’ve highlighted below resonates: “… it angers me that they don’t stop to think about the hurt they may be causing others.” In the last 14+ years, I’ve devoted my life to supporting people more recently diagnosed…
As I return to more regular writing and posting on my website, which is helping me to regain my own inner equilibrium, and sense of purpose, as the narrative therapy aspect of journalling has been restored. Every day, I continue to read others words using the various disability techniques now required for reading, and for…
Authors’ names have ‘astonishing’ influence on peer reviewers By Nicola Jones, Published on 11 October 2022 “A Nobel prizewinner is six times more likely than someone less well known to get a thumbs-up for acceptance, finds study.” This article fascinated me, although it did not surprise me, and this status bias [1] is applicable in…
It is difficult to believe that abuse, violence and assault including sexual assault and neglect is happening to older people and people with dementia in community and residential care, in Australia, or indeed, in any country. But it does, and the statistics are truly horrifying and hard to reckon with. Living in a rich developed…
Earlier this year, the UN Sub committee on the prevention of torture announced a visit to Australian, to inspect detention centres. For those who may not have heard of this committee, I have added the following information about their work available on their website: “The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or…
What’s Happened to Emotional Resilience? Our children are increasingly less able to handle the routine hardships of life. By Nancy Colier LCSW, Rev., Posted September 25, 2022 Three key points in the article were listed: Many children lack resilience and feel overwhelmed by life for a variety of reasons. Our culture may condition people to…
A COSP13 Side Event I spoke at in 2020 was featured in a United Nations Social Development Network (UNSDN) newsletter in May last year. It was also the FIRST EVER live webcast side event to be held in New York since the start of the corona virus pandemic. Anyway, I found this in my drafts…
An Op-Ed article by Patricia Bencivenga and Judy Butler, published on 14 October 2022 in the Pittsbert Post Gazette, Drug company tricks: Gaslighting the worried well into becoming the worried sick, highlights the power of the rich parhmaceutical companues, and their hold on research progress, researchers and dementia charities. They provide massive amounts of funding…
As has been common over my whole life, my views often do not reflect the majority. This is especially so in a number of areas related to dementia, and unfortunately, in this space, including amongst self-advocates, and it is sometimes uncomfortable for us all. Having a different view, a differing opinion or a different belief…
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