Show Notes
On this Episode, and in honour and recognition of National Volunteer Week – with the key message for 2024 being “Something for everyone” - we’ll be exploring the importance of volunteers in the dementia care space, the role they play in ensuring quality care is provided to those living with dementia, and how dementia education can provide knowledge and confidence to these often thankless but essential support workers in the healthcare industry.
Theme song: Sun Therapy - Sum Wave
We extend this respect to elders’ past, present, and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with dementia and their carers.
We’d like to acknowledge the valuable work of all volunteers in the dementia care space, with special thanks to researchers and contributors in the making of this episode. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, including the Dementia Care Training for Volunteers Course mentioned in this episode, please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact [email protected] or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
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More from Dementia Dialogues with DTA
Aggression isn’t a sudden personality change for someone living with dementia - it’s often their brain finding new ways to communicate or react when a situation feels overwhelming. It might stem from frustration, fear, confusion, or a sense of being unsafe. Understanding why aggression occurs is crucial, not only for the wellbeing of the person living with dementia but also for the safety and confidence of those who support them. In this episode, we unpack what aggression can look like, why it happens, how to respond, and why education around changed behaviour is essential for carers and families alike.
At some point, or another, we've all likely experienced the feeling of losing our bearings - maybe even the anxiety and fear that follows. Now imagine that constantly, because you’re a person living with dementia. What if there was a way to reduce the potential for that feeling? Well, there is. And it has everything to do with the physical space, the design of the environment, and how we think about what it means for a person living with dementia. The smallest of things the average person may not even notice can make all the difference - and there’s always room for improvement, in any space, big or small. Today, we’ll be chatting to Fallon Forbes from DTA to understand environments, how they impact a person living with dementia, and ways a space can be improved to make it more dementia-friendly - it’s easier than you might think…
When we think about a dementia diagnosis, it’s easy to associate care with doctors and nurses, living facilities and how various changes are going to impact the loved ones of a person living with dementia. But just like with any stage of life, there are multiple areas of care that are essential to improving and maintaining health and wellbeing. Enter Allied Health - from occupational therapy and speech pathology to nutrition and optometry, and all the other key areas of health in between. On this episode, we’re joined by Ellie Newman, DTA’s own Western Australia Director and qualified physiotherapist, to discuss all things allied in the dementia care space, the role allied health professionals play in caring for someone living with dementia, and why it’s so important to remember that care should be looked at through a person-centred, holistic lens.
People living with dementia are at risk of getting lost — especially if they also wander. But did you know these are two distinct behaviours? In this episode, we dive deep into the differences between wandering and getting lost, why they happen, and how we can reduce the risks.
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