This page is designed to ‘fast-track’ anyone seeking dementia related information to the right services to provide quick help and support. The popular links have been included and will be updated regularly.
LINKS
Dementia Australia resources provide advice, common sense approaches and practical strategies on a wide range of subjects concerning dementia. They represent more than 353,000 Australians living with dementia and the estimated 1.2 million Australians involved in their care. They advocate for the needs of people living with all types of dementia, and for their families and carers, and provide support services, education and information. Dementia Australia is a member of Alzheimer’s Disease International, the umbrella organisation of Alzheimer’s Associations around the world. Dementia Australia also represents, at the national level, the interests of its federation of state and territory members on all matters relating to dementia and carer issues.
Dignity in Care Australia is a collection of Healthcare & Aged Care Professionals plus consumers that are advocating for people in hospitals and nursing homes. The Dignity in Care program aims to change the culture of SA health services by reinforcing the importance of treating patients with dignity and respect by implementing the 10 principles of dignity in care.
Dignity in Care was first launched in Australia in early 2011 at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH), with Maggie Beer as the patron. The program started with 300 enthusiastic champions, and now has over 1000.
Dignity in Care UK Led by the National Dignity Council, Dignity Champions form part of a nationwide network of over 60,000 individuals and organisations who work to put dignity and respect at the heart of UK care services to enable a positive experience of care.ed by the National Dignity Council, Dignity Champions form part of over 60,000 care
The Caring for Cognitive Impairment Campaign is about improving our knowledge and care practices, providing better outcomes for patients, hospitals, staff and loved ones, and reducing the risk of harm in hospitals.he campaign is a call for action to unite everyone who cares for people with cognitive impairment. Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, health service managers, care and support staff, workers in primary health or community care, patients and families can all make a difference. The Commission has sought the commitment of hospital Chief Executives and is listing hospitals who sign up to the campaign on the web site. The website also enables individuals to commit to the campaign.
Dementia Training Australia (DTA) offers a national approach to accredited education, upskilling, and professional development for the workforce providing care to people living with dementia. Led by the University of Wollongong, NSW, DTA is a consortium bringing together leading dementia educators and trainers from 5 universities and Alzheimer’s Australia.
National Language Guidelines *New
The words used to talk about dementia can have a significant impact on how people with dementia are viewed and treated in our community.The words used in speech and in writing can influence others’ mood, self-esteem, and feelings of happiness or depression. A casual misuse of words or the use of words with negative connotations when talking about dementia in everyday conversations can have a profound impact on the person with dementia as well as on their family and friends. It can also influence how others think about dementia and increase the likelihood of a person with dementia experiencing stigma or discrimination. This purpose of this guide is to promote the consistent use of appropriate, inclusive and non stigmatising language when talking about dementia and people with dementia.
My Aged Care helps you find the information you need about aged care services and is often the first port of call.
My Aged Care provides you with information about:
- different types of aged care services
- eligibility for services (including ACAT)
- how we understand your aged care needs and help you find local services to meet your needs
- costs of your aged care services, including fee estimators.
Aged Care Guide – is a resource to locate nursing homes around Australia. It can also be used to find where to source an ACAT in your state. Click on the tick logo to find out more.
The Carer Wellness Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that supports unpaid, family carers across the Adelaide Hills and Strathalbyn Districts. The two centres at Woodside and Strathalbyn offer a friendly and empathetic environment where Carers can access information, advocacy, respite and emotional support, as well as meeting other Carers through activities, support groups and well needed breaks.
The Centre offers support to those who are caring for a person with a disability, chronic illness, are frail or aged, or who have a mental illness.The impact of caring can be vast and effect many aspects of a carers existence. The friendly team at the Carer Wellness Centre understands that there is no ‘usual’ in the caring role and aims to provide a service that is flexible, needs led and as individual as each Carer’s experience.
Carer Support Workers offer a listening ear, as well as practical support and information to help to balance the caring role with the Carer’s own emotional, physical and social needs.
Aged Care Complaints Commissioner (Govt) *New
If you have a concern or complaint that you have not been able to resolve by talking with your service provider, the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner can support you, with information and options, to resolve your concern with the service provider.
When you contact them, they will listen to you and ask you questions about your concern to help them understand the issues and your expectations. They will let you know if your concern or complaint is an issue that they can help you with.
The ACH Group is a not-for-profit organisation which has been supporting older South Australians since 1952. ACH Group offers a wide range of services including retirement and residential accommodation options, domestic, personal and nursing care in the home, respite choices and short-term transition services.
ACH Group is dedicated to creating opportunities for older people to live good lives. They believe growing older is akin to turning a new page and with it comes a sense of great anticipation and optimism.
Their focus is on innovation and services that respond to changing needs reflects our desire to shift the way the community thinks about older people.
The Continence Foundation of Australia coordinates a wide range of educational and awareness raising activities and events. Many of these are funded under the Bladder Bowel Collaborative project (supported by the Australian Government Department of Health under the National Continence Program).
The mission of the Continence Foundation of Australia is to represent the interests of Australians affected by, or at risk of, bladder and bowel control problems and act as an advocate for their interests.
The Continence Foundation of Australia exists to serve all Australians by promoting bladder and bowel health.
Enabling Environments is a fabulous interactive resource to teach people how to make their homes dementia friendly. Click on the ‘Enabling Environments’ logo to test your knowledge now and obtain some new tips.
The Dementia Centre was founded by HammondCare in 1995 and has become recognised as a leading resource and research centre for aged care, both nationally and internationally. Our journey has been one of partnerships with leading research and industry organisations, health care providers and carers, education institutions and communities. Central to the work of the Dementia Centre is our dedication to defining and informing the provision of care and an enhanced quality of life for people of all ages living with dementia and their families.
Adelaide Geriatrics Training & Research with Aged Care Centre (G-TRAC). We aim to undertake collaborative research and training to deliver positive outcomes for the health and wellbeing of older people.We are part of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence: Trans-disciplinary Frailty Research To Achieve Healthy Ageing.
Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s carers, advocating on behalf of Australia’s carers to influence policies and services at a national level. It works collaboratively with partners and its member organisations, the Network of state and territory Carers Associations, to deliver a range of essential national carer services.They work to improve the health, wellbeing, resilience and financial security of carers and to ensure that caring is a shared responsibility of family, community and government.
ReBOC (Reducing Behaviours of Concern)
A resource to assist those caring for people living with dementia.
The content of this guide draws on currently accepted knowledge of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and promotes evidence based practice in dementia care to maximise the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers. This guide aims to enhance communication and interactions between carers, the person with dementia and their family members, and improve the occupational health and safety of people who provide care.
The clinical practice guidelines describe a standard of care that should be available to all Australians with dementia as well as to people being investigated for the possibility of dementia. The guidelines are based on the best research evidence; where there is inadequate evidence, they are based on the opinion of experts, including consumers. They let people with dementia and their carers know what kind of care and treatment to expect and they let doctors and health providers know what sort of care to provide. Having a version of the guidelines for consumers and a more detailed version for health workers means everyone knows what to expect.
Advanced Care Directive Kit – SA Health
A new form for patients to record their Advance Care Directives – gazetted 12 May 2016. (The old form should not be used)
Teepa Snow is one of America’s leading educators on dementia. Teepa Snow’s philosophy is reflective of her education, work experience, available medical research, and first hand caregiving interactions. Working as a Registered Occupational Therapist for over 30 years her wealth of experience has led her to develop Positive Approach™ to Care techniques and training models that now are used by families and professionals working or living with dementia or other brain changes throughout the world.
COTA Australia’s mission is to promote, improve and protect the circumstances and wellbeing of older people in Australia as citizens and consumers. Be recognised by government, the general community and media as representing, advocating for and serving all older Australians. COTA Australia promotes the concerns of older people at the highest level of government and associated organisations.
Care of Older People Toolkit (SA Health)
The toolkit has been developed to increase awareness about the unique aspects of caring for older people and to provide staff with accessible information and practical tools to help them reduce the likelihood of functional decline occurring in older people under their care.
The toolkit is intended to be used to support service change and best practice within the funds that have been allocated. The toolkit is expected to challenge how any current funds for this area are spent ensuring that the allocated funds are reviewed and used to deliver best practice models of care. The toolkit is not a tool to seek funds over and above what is allocated now or into the future for these services.
10 Questions To Ask (Aged Care Resource)
Dementia Care Matters – is a ‘feelings based’ model of care that is being introduced in aged care facilities internationally by Dr David Sheard.
As individual people they passionately believe that ‘Feelings Matter Most’ in dementia care. Our aim to model ourselves how BEING person centred is at the heart of our approach to learning and developing services. Leadership is about creating services that hold up an exciting mirror image of what dementia care can look, sound and feel like.
The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) supports people in hospitals across South Australia through vital health and medical research and improved patient care.
Research supported by THRF is translational in nature and benefits the local community as well as those on a national and global scale.
THRF has been supporting The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research for almost 50 years. More recently, THRF has expanded its support to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and regional South Australian hospitals.
All research funded by THRF is translational, ‘bench to bedside’ health and medical research – which means research undertaken in the lab, ‘the bench’, is translated into treatments that benefit people at the ‘bedside’ as soon as possible.
THRF supports patient care initiatives that are helping to ensure that your care in hospital is as comfortable as possible and informed by the very latest research outcomes. We support medical research through Major Program Grants, Research Grants the purchase of laboratory equipment and by providing financial support and scholarships to Postgraduate, Honours and vacation research students.
Planetree membership is an emphatic 360 approach to fostering exceptional patient-centered care by delivering unparalleled access to services, resources,and support. Our process brings new possibilities to the pursuit and delivery of patient-centered care. Deeper insights, richer learning, and culture-changing collaborations allow organizations to experience a directed yet self-determined patient centered journey. We are excited that patient centered care is an ever-increasing target. Patients’ expectations and involvement in care continues to drive new and exciting programs and structures along the healthcare continuum. As a result, ongoing partnership and membership with Planetree affords organizations access to the latest approaches to organizational challenges of all kinds.
Hammond Care is regarded nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s most innovative health and aged care providers. They offer hospital care, residential care and community services.
Hammond Care is passionate about improving quality of life for people in need and has a particular commitment to dementia care and research as well as to people who are financially disadvantaged.
The Severe Behaviour Response Teams are a mobile workforce of staff including nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health and specialist staff – available to provide timely expertise & advice to Commonwealth funded approved residential aged care providers requiring assistance with addressing the needs of people with severe and very severe Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).
The Hogeweyk (part of Hogewey care centre). A weyk or wijk being a group of houses, similar to a village) is a specially designed village with 23 houses for 152 dementia-suffering seniors. The elderly all need nursing home facilities and live in houses differentiated by lifestyle. Hogeweyk offers 7 different lifestyles: Goois (upper class), homey, Christian, artisan, Indonesian and cultural. The residents manage their own households together with a constant team of staff members. Washing, cooking and so on is done every day in all of the houses. Daily groceries are done in the Hogeweyk supermarket . Hogeweyk offers its dementia-suffering inhabitants maximum privacy and autonomy. The village has streets, squares, gardens and a park where the residents can safely roam free. Just like any other village Hogeweyk offers a selection of facilities, like a restaurant, a bar and a theatre. These facilities can be used by Hogeweyk residents and residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (UTAS) is at the forefront of translational research and support for issues confronting people with dementia and their carers. More than 25 projects are being carried out in Tasmania and nationally, across dementia research fields including neuroscience, medicine, nursing, psychology and sociology, health, economics and policy. Their MOOC (massive open online course) ‘Understanding Dementia’ is a 9 week course teaching the fundamentals of dementia. (ideal for carers, family members and people with dementia).
Beyond Blue are equipping everyone in Australia with the knowledge and skills to protect their own mental health. We’re giving people the confidence to support those around them, and making anxiety, depression & suicide part of everyday conversations.
And as well as tackling stigma, prejudice and discrimination, they are breaking down the barriers that prevent people from speaking up and reaching out.
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