It was an honour to win the esteemed Australian of The Year Award in SA for 2017, and to now be representing South Australia in January 2017. As a finalist last year, it was more than amazing to be nominated again, and even more incredible to not only be a finalist again this year, but to…
To make a change from my blogs of remembrance, I thought I’d focus on the Kiama Dementia Friendly Community Pilot Project in my attempt to post daily blogs for #WAM2016 #DAM2016. Yes, I know yesterday one did not arrive, but I accidentally posted two on Sunday! To say Kiama has ‘done it again Sam!’ is…
Well, technically it is Day 2 of #DAM2016 in Australia, but as it is before midnight on September 1 in the UK, I could also say it is Day 1 of #WAM2016! I have not been here at all lately, in part due to health issues but also trying almost desperately to keep up with my studies.…
Consumer engagement has been an overused catchphrase the last few years, especially in the medical conditions or diseases sector. Often, receiving grants now depend on an organisation or researcher engaging with us. There is also a significant amount of intellectual property to be gleaned (for free, and often not acknowledged) from consumers, and high profile consumer engagement can…
Last week, I was privileged to be one of 17 people with dementia to participate in a Parliamentary Summit, alongside 44 family care partners, the CEO Carol Bennett, President Graeme Samuel and a number of staff from Alzheimer’s Australia. From the media release: “The Communique has been developed by consumers from across the country attending…
Media Release 10 March 2016, re-printed here with permission: People with dementia call for action on National Dementia Priorities More than 70 people living with dementia and their carers will come together in Canberra to identify key priorities and call on politicians to take action in responding to Australia’s growing dementia rates during a two-day…
The 7th Annual National Dementia Conference will take place on 21-22 March 2016 at the Novotel Brisbane, and is proudly supported by Alzheimer’s Australia, the Australia Journal of Dementia Care, the Australian Pain Society and the Joanna Briggs Institute. Day 2 of this conference, which I was a delighted to be a key-note speaker at…
It is World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September 2015, and all around the world there are events and meetings to celebrate the day, as a way of recognising the work of the organisations who advocate for us, and also where there are many conversations about the issues we face such as isolation and stigma. I still believe, whilst so many…
This is blog #3 of mine on the continuing AFR debacle. It seems the AFR does not wish to engage in full and open conversation about their recent lapse in judgement, and obvious serious lack of respect for people with dementia. A public retraction and apology is still required. No less will be unsatisfactory, and many others definitely agree…
There are many surprises after a diagnosis of dementia, and I was chatting about some of them Monday night with friends from the UK. One of the most common is the ‘friends’ who disappear after they find our we have dementia. A few weeks ago I was interviewed on the telephone by one of the producers of the…
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…
For six months now, I have been visiting and working in the Kiama area as part of the contracted consultancy role I have until this week with Alzheimer’s Australia, on the dementia friendly community Pilot Project with the local Kiama council, Alzheimer’s Australia and the University of Wollongong. The main challenge has been to involve and…
A person’s voice has greater chance of being heard when connected to the voice of others in similar circumstances, and very often, the closer the similarity the stronger the voice. For people with dementia and the family members who support them or other support people such as neighbours or friends, this has given rise to organisations…
I often ponder on the various activities and forms of ‘behaviour management’ or recreation offered to people with dementia in the community, and then in residential care homes. Why not go skydiving, dancing or fishing instead of playing Bingo… I’d be happy to spend it on that! I suspect it is likely the reason activities such…
Professor John McCallum, Dementia Research, has informed me of the latest research initiative in Australia, and asked for as many of his colleagues to share as possible. As I’ve not written or published a blog since New Years Day (yikes, that is 7 days ago!!), and my usual almost-daily blogging has come to a complete…
