Category: News

‘Pride of Australia’ Awards 2018 – Put Spotlight on Dementia Downunder

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A CHARITY worker, teacher, school student and consumer adviser at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are the 2018 SA Pride of Australia winners.

The inspiring community-minded quartet are the stand out choices from dozens of nominations for the popular News Corp awards, devised 14 years ago to celebrate the spirit of those doing extraordinary things to help or save others.

Charity worker Rachael Zaltron founded Backpacks4SAKids in 2014 in memory of a friend who died before her dream of becoming a foster carer came true.

The charity transforms lives by providing assistance to children in care, homeless youth and families starting again after domestic violence incidents.

WINNERS: Harriette Rogers, 9, with Brett Partington, left, Steven Cameron, and Rachael Zaltron.Picture: DYLAN COKER

Ms Zaltron is one of two full-time employees, alongside 200 volunteers, who distribute more than 2500 backpacks annually.

“It’s the first award we’ve won so it’s very special,” the Ridgehaven resident said at the medal presentation at Keith Murdoch House yesterday. “It’s such an honour and an amazing acknowledgment of all the work our team have done.”

Harriette Rogers, 9, is keen to get her medal back to Seymour College to show her classmates, who supported her growing her hair long so it could be cut off and used to make wigs for children who had lost their hair to cancer.

After two years, 35cm needed to be trimmed.

“I’m thinking of doing it again but mum’s not too excited at the prospect of all the knots,” she said.

From Stirling, Harriette is organising a bike ride fund raiser to help add to the $3200 she has already raised for Canteen, a charity supporting children with cancer.

Brett Partington, a consumer adviser who started an online support group for families dealing with dementia, with more than 1200 members, paid tribute to his family, including mum Jan and sister Jane.

“When Dad (Bob) was diagnosed we were like the Brady Bunch … we gathered up and gave each other support,” the Woodside resident said. “We’ve been through hell but hoping to help others through this journey now.”

In response to family struggles with his father’s 10 year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, Brett founded online support group ‘Dementia Downunder’  – backed by professionals – that helps Australian families dealing with dementia.

 Steven Cameron, who founded the Australian Association for Men in early Childhood Education, was humbled by the support of staff at the Kidman Park’s Barbara Kiker Memorial Kindergarten who nominated him.

“Knowing they thought that much of me was special enough and winning a medal was not in mind,” the Prospect resident said.

“It’s a very nice medal … and going to go nicely next to the Kung Fu medal I’ve got, which is not quite the same quality.”

Source: Advertiser Newspaper (SA) March 1, 2018

Memory Walk 2018 – Support Dementia Australia Now!

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Want to stop dementia and feel good about it in the process?

Consider joining the Memory Walk 2018.

I support this event every year and like to remember my Dad as I walk with friends and family as I walk. If you have a friend or loved one with dementia (or who has passed away) or know someone who does, you can run or walk the course to support and honour them. Please join team ‘Dementia Downunder’ and we can walk as a big group. We have some dogs walking as well and they are very welcome. It is a great day to get some fresh air and some exercise anyway. If you prefer to make a donation and not attend that is really special as well. Please click the link below:

https://www.memorywalk.com.au/my-fundraising/2928/dementia-downunder-fundraising-page

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Funeral Service for Bob Partington

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The funeral for Bob Partington will be conducted in the chapel at:

Charles Berry & Sons Funeral Home

204 Magill Road, Norwood SA  5067

Saturday 11 February

10am

The family also invite you to continue your conversations at the ROBIN HOOD HOTEL  – 315 Portrush Rd, Norwood – from 12 noon onwards.

In lieu of floral tributes a donation can be made to the NIGHTINGALE NURSES (a division of Alzheimer’s Australia SA). This is a valuable self funded service for people with dementia.

Their aim is to have a palliative nurse for every person diagnosed.

To donate please click below:

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New resource to empower people living with dementia and carers

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A new consumer guide that sets out the level of care that people with dementia and their carers and families should expect is now available.

One of the first of its kind, the Consumer Companion Guide – Diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia, was developed by people living with dementia, carers, researchers and clinicians from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre (CDPD).

Dr Kate Laver, NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow at the Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University is the lead co-ordinator of the Consumer Companion Guide.

Dr Kate Laver was also involved in the development of the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia, 2016 which were launched in March this year by the Health Minister, Sussan Ley, at the Alzheimer’s Australia National Consumer Summit.

“The objective of this project was to develop a companion guide for members of the public to complement the Clinical Practice Guidelines to ensure that the information in the Guidelines is more accessible to those who need it most, regardless of their varied levels of health literacy,” Dr Laver said.

The Consumer Companion Guide includes information about the Principles of Dignity of Care, including:

  1. Zero tolerance of all forms of abuse
  2. Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family
  3. Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service
  4. Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control.
  5. Listen and support people to express their needs
  6. Respect people’s privacy
  7. Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution
  8. Engage with family members and carers as care partners
  9. Assist people to maintain confidence and positive self-esteem
  10. Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation

 

Alzheimer’s Australia National President Professor Graeme Samuel AC said consumers played a key role in the development of the Consumer Companion Guide to ensure the document is relevant to the needs of people living with dementia and their carers.

“These guidelines are an example of the significant impact that can be achieved when consumers partner with clinicians and researchers,” Professor Graeme Samuel AC said.

Dr Jane Thompson who cared for her husband who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 was one of the five consumer representatives on the collaborative working group.

“There were no Australian clinical practice guidelines for dementia when I was caring for my husband, let alone versions summarising the information in an accessible form,” Dr Thompson said.

“I know I would have benefited enormously from having had access to such an up-to-date summary of the best available evidence.

“I welcome the availability of the Consumer Companion Guide and hope that it will improve the quality of care for those people currently living with dementia, their carers and families.”

A copy of the Guide can be found here https://www.fightdementia.org.au/national/about-dementia-and-memory-loss/resources/clinical-practice-guidelines

The development of the Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Consumer Companion Guide were funded through the NHMRC Partnership Centre: Dealing with Cognitive and Related Functional Decline in Older People.

Source: Alzheimers Australia website

The Changing Culture in Aged Care

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ARTICLE – ‘THE CHANGING CULTURE IN AGED CARE’

The Advertiser, 9 January 2017

THE like-it-or-lump-it approach that sees children throwing dinner, bath and bedtime tantrums has long been used in aged care but is finally falling from favour.

Regimented schedules in aged care-homes are being replaced with progressive thinking that puts residents at the centre of the plan, says Alzheimer’s Australia SA acting chief executive officer Rajiv Chand.

“Aged care is now very much moving to person-centred care,” he says.

“Not everyone likes to get up at 7am, have a shower and have breakfast.

“It’s (about) getting used to that thinking that we’re all unique.

“You shouldn’t need to conform to the schedule. Why can’t the schedule work around you?”

Mr Chand says every resident used to get the same food and the same care at the same times but they were likely to be happier if they were treated as individuals, instead of as a group.

“Not everyone likes porridge or toast for breakfast,” he says.

“It’s about being very much in tune with a person’s likes or dislikes.

“It’s very simple but it used to happen — everyone used to get the same everything.”

He says many of the changes to dementia care do not have to cost more.

As well as changing how staff relate to residents and how their schedules are managed, care providers are doing more to create a homelike atmosphere.

Mr Chand says there is “very much a positive trend” in aged care and people looking for a place for their parent living with dementia should do their homework.

“Do your research; go to a few aged-care homes,” he says.

“Maybe get there at lunch time and sit there for an hour or two. You’ll work out if this is the right place you want to put your mum or dad.”

To read the full article – click the link below:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-changing-culture-in-aged-care/news-story/9a6498575667b2eeed2387ffdff0e15d

National Dementia Conference – Melbourne 2017

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‘Be the Change’ with this unique opportunity to explore leading approaches to supporting people living with dementia to live engaging and rewarding lives. The 17th Alzheimer’s Australia Biennial National Dementia Conference is currently open for early online registration. Earlybird rates available until 18 July 2017. Visit the world’s most liveable city and see why Melbourne has retained that reputation for six years in a row. The inspiring conference program is taking shape with keynote speakers being confirmed including Christine Bryden and Alan Duffy.

Dementia Conference 2017 – Registration

Memory Walk 2017 – 26 March – Glenelg (SA)

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Alzheimer’s Australia SA is excited to bring Memory Walk & Jog back to Colley Reserve on Sunday 26 March 2017!

Register for the 3km walk, 6km walk or the 10km run and help those impacted by dementia by raising funds before walking or running the race against dementia!

All funds raised increase our ability to provide vital support services, such as counselling and education to help people with dementia, family carers and health professional living in South Australia. These services reduce feelings of isolation and empower people living with dementia and those caring for them!

With your help, we can make sure that our support is always available to those who need it!

The first 100 people to register before 29 January 2017 will not only receive discounted registration, but a FREE Memory Walk & Jog event T-shirt too!

Facebook Page – Memory Walk 2017