When I was 14 years of age, it became acutely clear to me that “if it was to be, it was up to me”. What happened that day in 1971 taught me categorically that to survive, I would have to become more resilient, and completely self sufficient. It was a powerful experience that determined without…
You might also like to read what I wrote for Dementia Alliance International
It is time to write the second Edition of this book, which will be an Audiobook, especially as this first edition needs an update. I’m looking forward to being able to launch the audiobook, but especially to updating a few of the chapters in my first book, as not only have my opinions changed since…
It’s great to see new dementia advocates inspired and empowered to start speaking up for change. What’s disturbing though, is that after more than four decades of it, ‘we’ are asking for exactly the same things as the pioneer dementia advocates including Christine Bryden and James McKillop (who were both diagnosed in the last century),…
My inner rage, sometimes quiet, sometimes more obvious and loud – against the persistent status quo, particularly in the field of dementia ‘care’ is not meant to be personal, not to any individual, or to any organisation. I am well aware and often say in presentations that almost everyone I know goes to work (paid…
What went wrong? Uncovering the Crisis at the International Disability Alliance The following is an introduction to an important blog by Peter Torres Fremlin, a report which uncovers the crisis at the International Disability Alliance (IDA). Peter looks into what went wrong at the International disability Alliance – not only to inform us, but to…
Assisted technology (AT), Artifical Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technology (DT), have meant there is an increasing ‘digitisation’ of our world. It is sometimes confronting, it is often helpful, and there are many positives and negatives. I hear people telling me the love AT, and many also tell me they hate it! Many also describe it…
Over the years, I’ve presented at events themed, ‘the elephants in the room’, and even wrote a chapter in a book published last year on this theme. It is titled, About Us Without All of Us: The Elephants in the Room. Todays blog is about a very big elephant in the room, which he goes…
“Necessity of Reparations for People with Dementia in Long Term Care: Empirical Perspectives” By Linda Steele and Kate Swaffer Abstract People living with dementia (‘PLWD’) have experienced significant human rights violations in long term care (‘LTC’) institutions, including institutionalisation, segregation, detention, violence, and neglect. Wide ranging and ongoing impacts of these violations on PLWD have…
My blogpost today is to invite interested health professionals to participate in a study run by Monash University. A/Prof. Michele Callysa is the lead Chief Investigator (CI) on this project. I am also a CI, along with many other colleagues. Scroll to the bottom of this blog for more information, and for who to contact…
It’s not too late to register for this webinar on June 5, next week. https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ICQkDWcOR0aKOHzCfsuxYg?os=iphone#/registration
Hoping for a light at the end of this devastating tunnel…
Deeply ashamed of Australians. Deeply ashamed to be an Australian. No words will ever express the sadness and devastaion I feel for our First Nations Peoples. Almost speechless due to the unbelievable racism, the total lies peddled by so many ‘people’, and the deafening ignorance of the majority… 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦
Recently I read an interesting article titled, “Maslow got it wrong”. Many of us were taught Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs was both a model for self actualisation and creating strong, healthy communities. But this was recently challenged this Eurocentric paradigm and that it would be a different hierarchy if he was a poor Black man…
For some, reading my chapter in this book may feel like I’m ripping off a Band-Aid, or worse. It may feel like a betrayal. It may sound ‘angry’. There will definitely be moments of discomfort, denial, and even disbelief that a ‘retired’ dementia self-advocate could, and would dare to say many of the things I’ve…
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