The use of ANY restraints in dementia care, including physical or chemical, is starting to be seen by now by many including health care professionals and not just a few of us living with dementia or supporting someone with dementia, as a major breach of human rights. Locking people in secure units, is for other…
As those of you know have been following my blog for a long time, it used to be a daily blog, and last week, at an author event I spoke at in small country town called Two Wells where Annabel Crabb comes from, I met the wonderful Carolyn Cordon, a fellow poet and someone I have known…
Thanks to my DAI members and family for supporting this webinar. If you haven’t seen it, please watch, listen, and learn.
The following is a portion of my presentation at the GADAA event, Women and Dementia: A Global Challenge event last Thursday! When diagnosed with dementia, women experience stigma, discrimination, sexism (that exists everywhere, not just because of dementia) and if diagnosed younger, then we also experience the ageism attached to having what is perceived to be an ‘older…
Seven steps to help you choose the right home care provider First published February 27, 2017 12.29pm AEDT, written by Associate Professor Lee-Fay Low, for The Conversation. Older people needing extra help to live at home, whether that’s help with bathing, gardening, transport or physiotherapy, now have greater choice when it comes to the types…
No amount of pondering Will ever help me find the words For the malicious unkindness of a few others… Nor the incredible gratefulness For the love of so very many Truly ‘close friends and family’. Thank you.
Last year, I was asked to answer some questions for a website featuring Change agent stories, which has now changed its focus. They invited people to write stories whom they considered to be ‘Radicals or Change Agents’. The questions took me a long time to answer, and even now, I am not sure if I have answered them well,…
‘What the hell happened to my brain? Living beyond dementia’ Review published by Professor of Dementia Research, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Nottingham University on 30 December, 2016. Reproduced here, with permission. “Kate Swaffer is phenomenal. Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia before the age of 50, she has been a leading advocate for dementia ever since, with…
I am no longer an advocate for myself or for others diagnosed with dementia. I am no longer an activist for myself or for others diagnosed with dementia. I am slowly getting stronger again… and I am now a warrior.
The day after the AOTY awards were announced in Canberra last week, one reporter from the ACT phoned me and asked me what it felt like to be one of the losers. I was one of 32 state winners, and frankly, with or without an award, still feel like a winner, and have never felt…
Living beyond dementia Is tough And sometimes even fun But many days are torture Days spent finding files Many more losing them Only functioning at all Because of the support of our BUB’s More than occasionally We want to give up paddling… And, it seems, one or two might prefer I just stayed home and died… Finding…
This was some advice I was given yesterday, by the wife of the current Australian Of The Year Local Hero South Australian finalists’ wife, given to her by her mother Betty. I guess I am late in learning this lesson, and have certainly learnt it the hard way this week. Love everyone Trust no-one Row…
Thanks to Ita Buttrose, AO, OBE, an Australian journalist, businesswoman, television personality and author, for inviting me to be interviewed on The Studio. Ita was the Australian Of The Year in 2013., and she is a true media Icon, an inspiration for all women of all ages, and a woman who I feel lucky enough…
It was a privilege to be interviewed on ABC Breakfast by Paul Kennedy and Ali More, on 10 January 2017 in Melbourne. Almost better than that, was a family friend Jo Sullivan, a sports journalist who works there, who surprised me by escorting me to the studio (I had forgotten he worked there!!)! This is the interview:…
It is already mid January 2017, and I’ve not yet posted a blog, so am hoping to rectify the today! I started this ages ago, but have had trouble paddling since December so have not achieved very much at all. Anyway, it may be worth looking back and reflecting as we prepare for yet another year. The years…
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