On this day in 1955, the late Mrs Rosa Parks sits on a white persons seat on a bus. Frankly, there are many days I have felt like Rosa Parks. In all honesty, I regularly feel ashamed to be a white person, as the extent of ‘othering’, and prejudice and racism continues in society today.…
If you haven’t been following me here or on social media for long, you may not know about the #BanBPSD #rethinkingdementia and #ReframingDementia campaign that has been growing in terms of supporters, for a few years now. In September 2018, a number of people including me, Susan Macaulay, Sonya Barsness, Al Power, Daniella Greenwood and…
It’s not too late to register for this DAI Webinar being held tomorrow. I’m just a bit late promoting it here!!! Beyond ‘Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia’ (BPSD) Wednesday, November 27, 2019 (USA/CA/UK/EU) Thursday, November 28, 2019 (AU/NZ/JP/SGP/TWN) Please note: this is one event, set in a number of different time zones. About the Webinar:…
Looking at Aged Care through the prism of human rights. In the wake of the recent Human Rights Watch Report on chemical restraint and the ongoing Royal Commission, UTS Law is hosting a conference on the rights of people living with dementia in aged care facilities. While much of the current debate has focused on the…
The onslaught of neoliberalism, austerity measures and cuts, impact of climate change, protracted conflicts and ongoing refugee crisis, rise of far right and populist movements have all negatively impacted on disability. Yet, disabled people and their allies are fighting back and we urgently need to understand how, where and what they are doing, what they…
Following the third Aged Care Royal Commission hearing in Melbourne recently, which focused on workforce issues, the Aged Care Royal Commission has announced it is seeking written submissions relating specifically to the aged care workforce. Start your submission today! Issues can relate to: · Staffing levels · Registration schemes · Remuneration and working conditions · Skill, knowledge and competency levels of…
Join us for a Summit: People Living With Dementia, Aged Care and Human Rights 9am-3.30pm, Friday 22 November 2019 University of Technology, Quay Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Download the flier. FREE event but you do need to RSVP for catering purposes. If you wish to attend, please email Linda Steele linda.steele@uts.edu.au Views of people living with…
It’s been a long time between waterholes here, or rather, since my last blog! For all sorts of reasons I’ve felt the need to stay quiet here, and for a number of personal and health related reasons, I’ve not been up to blogging either. However, it’s recently become very clear I need to find my…
A friend of mine, Leonnie Blumsen who I was at the University of South Australia with many years ago when we were both studying an undergraduate Bachelor of Psychology degree, is actively involved in working for Peace, and is soon hosting an event to mark International Day of Peace. The event aims to highlight the role that…
“Invisible wounds are the hardest to heal, and often their healing depends on the unconditional love of others.” Inner healing is also made very difficult when a person dies, and it is also really challenging to heal one’s own wounds, even when the person is still alive, when their love and affection is conditional. 2019…
A cloud of unspeakable sadness Unlike anything you’ve felt before Interrupting your daily life Like a punching bag Full of unexpected blows Searingly painful Seemingly unending A life gone Your life as you know it Now gone forever The person gone No others want to speak of them again For fear of seeing your grief…
I’m particularly aware life probably is one big joke, as I had thought my blog had been set to private, then on the weekend through Twitter and Facebook, I discovered they are still publicly available. Hello. Here I am again, posting a rambling blog. So much for feeling the need to be more private! It…
I’m struggling to remember when this started, but today is another TBI Big Lunch, being held at the Adelaide Central Markets. It’s a remarkable day and brilliant fundraising event, specifically held to support the homeless community living in South Australia, who are also selling The Big Issue. I used to be a regular volunteer, and…
In 2015, Dr Al Power, Daniella Greenwood and I were accused by a young academic of being deeply offensive, and wrong. This was after we had all given keynote presentations at a conference challenging the status quo in dementia care, and in particualr challenging the concept of BPSD. We believed then, and I’m confident I…
Over the last ten years of advocacy, which have somehow turned into global activism for change for all people with dementia and our families, I’ve often turned to the late Dr Martin Luther King Jnr. and Mrs Rosa Parks for inspiration. I quote them regularly in speeches. I think of them, some weeks almost daily.…
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