Dementia

HelloCare share stories about Dementia to offer guidance and support to those who are living with dementia, and to those who care for others living with dementia. We encourage you to share these stories.

Chemical restraint recommendation could lead to “substitution” of other drugs: royal commission

By Caroline Egan

The royal commission’s proposed changes to the use of chemical restraint in aged care are mostly positive, but making it much harder to obtain prescriptions for antipsychotics could have unintended consequences, such as pushing residents onto other powerful medications, says a highly experienced aged care pharmacist. The commissioners have recommended that as soon as 1 November 2021, only a psychiatrist or geriatrician will be able to “initially prescribe” antipsychotics for aged care residents (recommendation 61). After that initial decision, GPs will be able to issue repeat prescriptions. Read More

Medicated and Motivated – NOT! Questioning the abusive practice of chemical restraint

By Leah Bisiani

This is the first appendix to Leah Bisiani’s article “Understanding the Unequivocal Rights of People Living with Dementia: Express Yourself with Behavioural Expression”. Elder abuse is one of the vilest indicators of ageist discrimination within our current civilization. Whilst the concealed ignominy of elder abuse has grown in visibility, it remains an area that is poorly examined... Read More

“I was bothered by the way we care for people living with dementia”.

By HelloCare Editorial Team

Going back more than 15 years, something worried Dr Al Power about how people cared about people with dementia. As a certified geriatrician, Dr Power did “quite a bit of culture change” through his work with the elderly at residential care homes around the US and Canada. With a full-time medical staff, he cared for... Read More

“We’ve Excluded People with Dementia From Society” – It’s Time For a Change

By HelloCare Editorial Team

Australia has an ageing population – there are more older people than ever before, and with it, an increasing number of people with dementia. September is Dementia Awareness Month and it is during this time that Tamar Krebs, Founder and CEO of Group Homes Australia, hopes to see some changes in people’s attitude towards people... Read More

“The Restaurant of Order Mistakes” Hiring Waiters with Dementia

By HelloCare Editorial Team

When most people go out for a meal, they want reliable service and to get exactly what they ordered off the menu. But at The Restaurant of Order Mistakes in Japan, you go in knowing that what you get might not be quite right. And the customers are perfectly fine with that. So what makes... Read More

“How Could the Nurse Not have Known My Grandma was Dying?”

By HelloCare Editorial Team

Submitted by Anonymous I still reflect on my grandma’s death. I tried to see the positives immediately after. And now I’m reflecting on the things that potentially could have made it a bad death. I only raise this because I think there is a lot of work still needed in the training of nurses and... Read More

“What are people living with dementia really telling you?”

By HelloCare Editorial Team

“What are people living with dementia really telling you?” with Wendy Hall, Consultant, Dementia Centre creating awareness during Dementia Action Week. “Always put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.” Wendy asks us to stop and consider what it would be like to live... Read More

“People living with dementia are people”: what we can learn about treating them that way

By Rianna Manuel

Often for those living with dementia, the knee jerk reaction of many around them is one where they are seen as “other”. Less than the person they were before. Treating people living with dementia as people first, and patients second, is key in improving their quality of life, according to Prof. Steven Sabat. Read More

1950s diner opens in UK nursing home to awaken memories for residents with dementia

By Caroline Egan

A British aged care home has opened a 1950s-style diner on site, with the intention of stimulating memories and conversations for residents who have dementia. Residents of the Anchor – Mill View care home in Bradford, Yorkshire, are spoilt for choice. They already have a cinema on site, as well as a functioning corner shop,... Read More

Stages of Dementia – What might you expect?

By HelloCare Editorial Team

As more research is done into dementia, the more we learn about how it affects the millions people all around the world. Over the years, the terms, and our understanding of the different stages of dementia, have also evolved. While people may be aware of dementia and its stages, there are also some stages, called... Read More

Coping with Apathy: Why do people with dementia withdraw?

By HelloCare Editorial Team

Dementia can cause rapid degeneration of abilities that came so naturally previously before the diagnosis. As people living with dementia’s symptoms progress they may appear at some stage to be unresponsive and apathetic. Apathy in someone living dementia can be seen as: loss of motivation, diminished initiation, low social engagement, poor persistence, lack of interest, and or insight.... Read More

Why do some older people become reluctant to take a shower?

By Caroline Egan

Something that many carers and people who work in aged care might have observed is that older people sometimes become reluctant to bathe or take a shower. Even those who were once very conscious of their appearance and the way they present themselves to the world can become lax about bathing and even putting on... Read More

“You’re the thing that has to change” Teepa Snow tells dementia carers

By Caroline Egan

Last week HelloCare caught up with renowned dementia trainer, Teepa Snow, who, with her usual positivity and insight, shared some of her advice about how we can improve the way we care for people who are living with dementia. Ms Snow said society is becoming more tuned in to the needs of people living with... Read More

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Chemical restraint recommendation could lead to “substitution” of other drugs: royal commission

Medicated and Motivated – NOT! Questioning the abusive practice of chemical restraint

“I was bothered by the way we care for people living with dementia”.

“We’ve Excluded People with Dementia From Society” – It’s Time For a Change

“The Restaurant of Order Mistakes” Hiring Waiters with Dementia

“How Could the Nurse Not have Known My Grandma was Dying?”

“What are people living with dementia really telling you?”

“People living with dementia are people”: what we can learn about treating them that way

1950s diner opens in UK nursing home to awaken memories for residents with dementia

Stages of Dementia – What might you expect?

Coping with Apathy: Why do people with dementia withdraw?

Why do some older people become reluctant to take a shower?

“You’re the thing that has to change” Teepa Snow tells dementia carers

The latest

Inside Australia’s first home designed specifically for people with early-onset dementia

Inside Australia’s first home designed specifically for people with early-onset dementia

Do people with dementia still have sex?

Do people with dementia still have sex?

Do diet drinks increase the risk of stroke and dementia?

Do diet drinks increase the risk of stroke and dementia?

Making moments count: Navigating Alzheimer’s with love

Making moments count: Navigating Alzheimer’s with love

The fight or flight response in people with dementia: Angry reactions might not be what they seem

The fight or flight response in people with dementia: Angry reactions might not be what they seem

Ballet dancing: A surprising relief for people with Parkinson’s disease

Ballet dancing: A surprising relief for people with Parkinson’s disease

How this ‘enriched model of care’ is helping people with dementia thrive

How this ‘enriched model of care’ is helping people with dementia thrive

Cleaners help care for dementia patients in understaffed regional hospital

Cleaners help care for dementia patients in understaffed regional hospital

“A slow and painful journey”: Why did it take over 20 years to approve the new Alzheimer’s drug?

“A slow and painful journey”: Why did it take over 20 years to approve the new Alzheimer’s drug?

Why people with dementia don’t all behave the same

Why people with dementia don’t all behave the same