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Seminar: Addressing Restriction in Australian Aged Care Facilities

If you live in Adelaide, or can travel here, and are interested in the regulation of detention, and other restrictive practices in aged care facilities in Australia, you will be interested in the following seminar, being hosted by the Law School at the University of Adelaide. I’m very pleased to be invited, to present on the Dementia Justice: Dementia Redress Project recently completed by…

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15 years since Australia said ‘sorry’ to First Nations Australians

Monday 13 February 2023 was a significant day for First Nations Australians. 15 years ago was the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, acknowledging the profound harms and trauma inflicted to First Nations people. The then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said sorry, one of the first steps towards healing, but we are still such a long way from closing the gap, from a true voice in parliament ,…

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Online launches of the Dementia Reparations Principles and Project Report

‘How can we redress and repair violence, abuse and neglect of people living with dementia in residential aged care?’ People living with dementia have been subject to significant harm, including violence, abuse, and neglect in aged care in Australia. Yet, this harm is rarely recognised and redressed. People living with dementia in aged care, as well as care partners and family members, encounter…

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Grief is always underestimated

Movie Spoiler Alert. We recently watched a movie featuring Tom Hanks called ‘Otto’ which was poignant, sweet and funny. Hanks is an incredible actor and I was looking forward to seeing it, and from the trailer, thought it was going to be a modern day improved version of ‘Gumpy Old Men’. However, it may be quite distressing if anyone in your family or close circle has been suicidal, attempted…

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Criminalizing disability

A colleague and friend Tina Minkowitz* works towards the rights of survivors of psychiatric abuse, and runs a course for activists and allies on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from a Survivor of Psychiatry Perspective. Her article on disability and incarceration is worth a read, even if you don’t have time to do her course. Tina’s work also applies to people with…

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Australia misses the extended OPCAT deadline

I’m a member of the Australian OPCAT Network, and with permission, am posting a revised version of the contents of an email from the network here. As people with dementia living in residential aged care which they are locked in, and segregated, they too are living in places of detention, hence my interest in OPCAT. In fact, my late father in law regularly asked us why we had locked him in jail…

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Grief...

Grief…

As another year comes to an end, and christmas nears, for me, and for many of us, our grief reappears, sometimes in painful and unexpected ways. To have have loved, means you will grieve… It if is a first Christmas since someone you loved has died, it will likely be one of the toughest, and I know from experience that first year, gettign throgh the many occasions without someone you love, is…

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Deinstitutionalisation is on the agenda.

Go to YouTube to read the captioning.

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Respectful Communities

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has developed a program to ensure their community of students and staff are included, valued and respected. This is so much better than the dementia friendly initiatives, which has done so little to improve the respect and inclusion of people with dementia. Not have these initiatives reduced the stigma, discrimination, isolation and loneliness or paternalistic…

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Waiting for EBR makes change too slow

Waiting for EBR makes change too slow

Photos of the image of the evidence made on the basis of accurate data article. iStock ID:1320873096. Credit:ururu Anyone who has followed me here for a while will know that in 2008, following a diagnosis made by my neurologist of a young onset dementia, I was advised to prepare to die, via aged care respite, which I ultimately trademarked as the term, Prescribed Disengagement. I was not…

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Changing our thinking could change the world

Changing our thinking could change the world

Fixed Mindset or Growth Mindset text on sticky notes with office desk concept. iStock ID 1158906596. Credit: syahrir maulana Back in 2011 when I first started writing for this blog, I wrote a short piece about making sense of dementia. I’d just spent tiem with Christine Bryden, and a group of care providers, who all appeared commiitted to making change. Over time, I have edited and updated it to…

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In loving Memory of Music

In loving Memory of Music

In loving memory. Vector black ink lettering isolated on white background. Funeral cursive calligraphy, memorial card clip art. Stock file ID: 1403042332, Credit: Caelestiss There are many thing to discuss about music and dementia in particular, as mostly, professionals talk about music and dementia as if it a ‘solution’ to engagement, to loneliness, and so on, in the same way reminiscence…

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Integrity, Honesty and Actions

Integrity, Honesty and Actions

Integrity versus Honesty can mean different things to different people. From my perspective, both are extremely important, and the biggest test of integrity, is doing the right thing, when no one is looking, and to me, is what integrity means in real life. The way we act, not words we say. Words are cheap. Actions tell us about of your integrity and honesty, and personal responsibility. To help…

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Abandoning the 'Mothership'

Abandoning the ‘Mothership’

Night scenery of a man rowing a boat among many glowing moons floating on the sea, digital art style, illustration painting. iStock ID: 913475802 Credit:Grandfailure In a post titled “Surprised by my anger” written by a dear friend Chrissy last year, the quote I’ve highlighted below resonates: “… it angers me that they don’t stop to think about the hurt they may be causing others.” In the last…

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Winning as someone else's failure...

Winning as someone else’s failure…

Concept of ambitiousness, careerism. A golden egg walks through heads the white eggs. Purchased iStock image ID 1038988602. Credit: SvetaZi As I return to more regular writing and posting on my website, which is helping me to regain my own inner equilibrium, and sense of purpose, as the narrative therapy aspect of journalling has been restored. Every day, I continue to read others words using…

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Status Bias

Concept illustration of a man controlling the judge in a trial. This represents the idea of how in some cases people are manipulated by money, racism or politics. Purchased iStock image, by Marcos Silvia Authors’ names have ‘astonishing’ influence on peer reviewers By Nicola Jones, Published on 11 October 2022 “A Nobel prizewinner is six times more likely than someone less well known to get a…

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You’re probably not who you thought you were

As my husband said when he watched this,,, “you mean, I just worked out who I am, and tomorrow I won’t be me” 😂😂😂 The psychology of your future self (Dan Gilbert | TED2014) https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_the_psychology_of_your_future_self?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare