The last few days have been racked with a sadness after the loss of a friend with younger onset dementia; for many of us there has been a revisiting of our own mortality, and the issues many people with dementia and our loved ones discuss, especially in the early days following a diagnosis. The fear engendered by the…
According to Wikipedia, fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. In short, fear is the ability to recognise danger leading to an urge to confront it or flee from it (also…
Jack Nicholson famously once said in a movie, “You can’t handle the truth”. For many, this is the reality, and being honest and direct is my biggest ‘weakness’ or ‘fault’. I’d have to say, I don’t actually care any more as I have never intended to be rude with my honesty, but many find it…
Some time ago I attended one of the consumer forums where prior to the event it was not made clear the groups would be split into two; that is the people with dementia (PWD), and their carers/supporters of the people with dementia were separated. About 10 minutes before the end of the session, the reason why became crystal clear. One of the family members…
I’m sharing a DPSNews.com.au article from yesterday highlighting research about the value of walking as an antidote to falls. This of course, is yet another reason NOT to call it wandering, nor ‘manage’ walking as a challenging behaviour. “Aged care workers are being told to encourage residents to go for a walk instead of resting after eating to potentially…
Every so slowly, there is more and more research emerging to support that lifestyle factors can prevent dementia, as well as slow down the degeneration of dementia after someone is diagnosed. The study below is worth a read, and was highlighted on our commercial television channels in Australia last week. From my perspective this is perfect timing…
This is an important topic for people with younger onset dementia, and worth reading. We will all need to work together to achieve a more age appropriate level of residential care, if it is every to happen across Australia and the world. It is, totally unacceptable that anyone under the age of 65, needs to…
Dementia is indeed a public health priority, and I am proud to have been invited to attend the first WHO Ministerial Conference in Geneva next week on 16 and 17 March 2015. It is an honour to have been invited to present in a key note session on the morning of Day 2 on the issues important…
An advocate is a person who represents and works with a person or group of people who may need support and encouragement to exercise their rights, in order to ensure that their rights are upheld. The Health Consumers Alliance SA (HCA) Fact Sheet #2 says: Advocacy is a process to bring about change in the policies,…
Mahamera Se with English Subtitles This is a song written and sung by the son of a lady I met at the summit yesterday, whose father had dementia. It is a tribute to his father. It shows the depth of anguish, the feelings of loss of his dad, and the love in his heart for…
We’ve been privileged to have Gina Shaw from the UK here as our guest speaker today at our summit, Supporting people with dementia and their families: The consumer perspective. You can ‘meet’ her in this video produced by The Alzheimer’s Society UK. I think I’ve blogged it before, but it is a terrific video clip, worth…
Federico, a friend from overseas who I had the pleasure of meeting at ADI2012 in London has made this short promotional digital presentation for ADI2015 in Perth. If the images don’t inspire you to register for the conference, the music might… Thank you for making this Federico, and for sharing it on Youtube.
A message to the dementia doubters, by my B.U.B. Peter Watt Have you ever wanted to tell a dwarf to grow up? Someone in a wheelchair to stand on his or her own two feet? Or perhaps someone without arms to lend you a hand? Of course not! Well this happens to my wife…
Firstly, my sincere apologies to a friend and AADAC colleague, Maxine Thompson, who ran the pre conference workshop with me the day before the National Dementia Congress. When I reported on it here, I inadvertently left Maxine out from my précis. The feedback we both received from participants is they found it helpful, and we…
Sleeping until the sun sets Wondering why it is night time When he wakes up The internal clock back to front And inside out Sun-downing for much of the day Awake all night So let us Clash the symbols Dance more often Sing loudly Cook and eat together Anything to stay awake No more sitting in…
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