As the time to provide a submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety draws to a close, I remain deeply concerned nothing will change, in spite of the more than 8000 submissions, millions of dollars spent on the Royal Commission, and any likely outcomes or ‘recommendatons’. Historically, the Australian government chooses to…
Ending confinement and segregation: barriers to realising human rights in the everyday lives of people living with dementia in residential aged care. This article was published on 25 Jun 2020, in the Australian Journal of Human Rights, by Linda Steele , Kate Swaffer , Ray Carr, Lyn Phillipson & Richard Fleming. Abstract: Human rights are increasingly being considered in Australian law reform…
Journal article by Linda Steele, Ray Carr, Kate Swaffer, Lyn Phillipson, and Richard Fleming, published 18 June 2020 in Health and Human Rights Abstract: This paper responds to growing concerns in human rights practice and scholarship about the confinement of people living with dementia in care homes. Moving beyond the existing focus in human rights…
Personally, I dislike being labelled by anything, including, or especially by a disease. Being labelled to my height, my skin colour, etc. is also offensive, and I simply prefer to be referred to by my name (the one I chose). Negative language and labels have the power to disempower us, as I spoke and…
Long title, long standing problem. And about which I have a question. “Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of antipsychotic medications. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. TD causes stiff, jerky movements of your face and body that you can’t control. You might blink your eyes, stick out your tongue,…
I recently put together a list of tips for communicating with people with aphasia (and dementia), which were published as part of a blog for Dementia Alliance International; I thought it would be useful posted here. It has become more important to me lately, as my language, speech and communication is changing, and I am…
It is not too late to register for this important DAI Webinar, being held tomorrow, presented by Dr Linda Steele, BA, MPIL, PhD and Bobby Redman, BA, MA. Wednesday, May 27, 2020 (USA/CA/UK/EU) Thursday, May 28, 2020 (AU/NZ/JP/SGP/TWN) Please note: it is one event, set in a number of different time zones. About the Webinar: Dr Steele…
This quote is extremely relevant to me, and it is most definitely time for me to let go more, and to occasionally let others know I need help or support, instead of bearing the often heavy load of too many things for so many others. People don’t often check in with me, not because they…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the world looked the other way when faced with the reality that even the most basic of human rights were being denied to people with dementia, including at the time of their diagnosis and for the rest of their life thereafter. What this pandemic has done, is to highlight…
During this Coronavirus pandemic throughout the last 9 weeks, it has been both interesting and encouraging to see how we, as a community have all done our best to adapt to this time of dramatic change due to the enforced isolation and social and physical distancing. It really does show just how resilient and resourceful…
Far too many people, including some medical professionals, claim that many ‘Dementia Advocates’ don’t have ‘actual’ or ‘real’ dementia. Seriously. Invisible disabilities are just that. Invisible. Anyway, I feel like it’s time to talk about Dementia and Me again. It continues to be a roller coaster, and I’m needing to talk about it here again. The…
Yesterday, I wrote a blog about the reality of many people with dementia, who are also people with acquired disabilities. They [we] are facing the same issues that everyone is now facing due to COVID-19, but since diagnosis. On social media, what was picked up was not this issue, but instead, the challenges of people…
When I woke up today, I had received an email from a friend and colleague at HRW who has done a lot of work on rights for people living in nursing homes. She alerted me to Sophie Morgan, whose blogs and work I have found to be inspiring; her experience at this time resonates with…
Firstly, as we all face the current healthcare crisis, I acknowledge the challenging nature of these times and hope you are all safe and well. I suggest we phone our family and friends, and if that’s difficult, then consider writing a letter or sending a card. I love receiving letters and cards… I’m staying off…
For many years I have been highlighting the fact that staff shovelling poo in a zoo usually earn a higher hourly pay rate than nursing home care workers, and that the care in a zoo is likely to be of a higher standard. Most people melt with love at videos of cute animals, and are…
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