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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Try as I might, I am currently really struggling to convince a group of global researchers on the importance of adding two simple things to a list of possible interventions following a diagnosis of dementia. It has got to the point, I feel discriminated and stigmatised by them, as most in the group generally seem…
The quest for a more positive public narrative about those of us diagnosed with dementia, and on attitudes about the way a person and their family might choose (and be able) to live with dementia continues. Currently, living too positively with dementia, being remotely functional, and even having fun with it too often gets those…
“FIVE YEARS ON: WHY DAI? WHERE HAVE WE BEEN” WHERE ARE WE GOING?” With a new diagnosis of dementia every 3 seconds, it is not surprising that DAI has continued to grow since its launch five years ago. John Sandblom and I are both presenting, and are two of the eight co-founders. We are co…
The short Vimeo I am posting below today was made by a friend and colleague in Scotland, which I found to be incredibly profound. For me, it spoke mostly about truth. But it also speaks about lies and deception, and arrogance and the lack of scrutiny. As I have become what others often tell me…
Hello. It has been about a week since I last posted a blog, and I decided to start the new year with one which was posted on the International Day of persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2018, on why employers should employ people with disabilities. So, I’m beginning the year here with a mataphorical…
Over the last few years, the concept of Dementia Villages, Memory Cafes, Dementia specific shopping lanes, etc. has been growing, and worse, the villages are currently being lauded as ‘best practice’, in spite of there being NO evidence for them. Just like the Dementia Friendly Community or Dementia Friends initiatives, they were developed by people…
