It’s day 19 of Dementia Awareness Month in 2020, and although I started out this month, thinking that for my usual September daily blog series I would kickstart the #BanBPSD campaign again, I have strayed. That is because there are too many other things I believe are just as important, and even urgent, for me…
In the last year or so, many people with and without dementia have started to document the history of what they perceive as dementia advocacy and/or activism. It almost feels like it is being done, as if to justify that the last more than two decades of advocacy have been worth it, and so I…
For many years, I have been saying that people with dementia should be paid just like everyone else. After all, there is big money in dementia, and this particular industry is getting bigger. And it often still seems to be more about Purse Centred Care than Person Centred Care. People with dementa are living with…
Yesterday Ms. Ita Buttrose, the current Chair of the ABC in Australia, and an Ambassador and a past President of Dementia Australia gave a key note presentation at a Symposium hosted by DA. In the Q&A after her speech, she responded to one mildly defensive comment that there are ‘good aged care providers’, by saying…
Two years ago I published a series of blogs focused on the need to rethink dementia care, to reframe dementia entirely, on dementia as a major cause of disability, but most especially on the need to ban BPSD (Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia). The Coronavirus pandemic has almost proven BPSD is a false construct,…
Dementia and me What the hell happened to my braindiagnosed with dementia when I was much too youngmy children still at schoola deadly terminal disease effectingmemory, thinking, perception, judgment, language and speech But worse than that, effecting mylife, family, friendships, my sense of self, my identityand a bucket load of guilttruckloads of stigma discrimination and…
It was recently Father’s Day in Australia, which for me, is possibly the the equal worst day of the year. For those of us who’s parents are or were abusive, it is not a great day. It actually hurts when the loving relationships are so publicly highlighted as if all relationships between children and parents…
Following on from a recent blog about Dementia Risk Reduction, I received the comment below, which is being highlighted today, as this is such an important issue. I understand the necessity from a personal and public health strategy perpective for us to engage in risk reduction strategies. I also understand that we humans don’t always…
It is day 4 of Dementia Awareness Month (in Australia!) #DAM2020, and I thought it might be useful to focus on the factors that researchers now know reduce the risk of getting dementia today. The one ‘risk’ of doing this, is that people with dementia may start to be blamed for getting dementia, and this…
Apologies this post was accidentally published yesterday, when is was meant for today, day 2 of #DAM2020! Arrgghhhh! It is easy to hit the wrong button! Anyway, onto much more important things. The need for everyone to rethink dementia continues to be highlighted in the many stories of neglect, abuse, restraint and deaths in Residential…
This blog started 9 years ago, and so I decided to review and add here, one post per year from August, to see what, if anything has changed, and also how my writing and thinking has evolved. My aim is to provide an authentic voice, to be a true advocate, and not to be persuaded…
Many who have followed me here for a while will know I have adapted my lifestyle and focused on brain health as tools to help live more positively with dementia. Due to some personal stress and grief, I’ve been rather unfocussed! Hence, I really need to focus on brain health again! There is actually a…
It feels important to (re) acknowledge the challenging nature of these times and I do sincerely hope you are all safe and well. I also want to thank those who have reached out to me at this time of deep grief, here, on social media and by phoning me or calling in. Words do not…
In 2016, I was interviewed by Jessica Kingsley Publishers JKP), soon after the release of my book, What the hell happened to my brain?: Living Beyond Dementia. This is my response to one of the questions: Q: What would be your best piece of advice for others who are living with dementia? A: My advice…
Lost for words Wretched in my grief Thank you For your love and support As we face the loss of our super cool dude Boris…
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