Dementia Care

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4 Australian Journal of Dementia Care October/November 2016 Vol 5 No 5
N E W S
Alzheimer’s Aust CEO resigns
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic CEO
Maree McCabe (far left) has
stepped into the role of Acting
National CEO following Carol
Bennett’s recent resignation.
Ms McCabe will continue in the
position until a new National
CEO is recruited. Announcing
her resignation in August, Ms Bennett (pictured above right) said she
welcomed the positive development of Alzheimer’s Australia moving
towards a more unified organisation but had decided not to continue with
the organisation through the transition.
Koori Growing Old Well Study follow-up
The Koori Growing Old Well Study-II, led by a team from Neuroscience
Research Australia (NeuRA), is currently underway with a $200,000
Dementia Research Grant from the Dementia Collaborative Research
Centres. It’s a follow-up to the initial Koori Growing Old Well Study
(KGOWS) which started six years ago to look at rates of dementia among
336 Aboriginal volunteers aged 60-92. That study found Aboriginal
Australians aged over 60 were three times more likely to develop
dementia and at a younger age than the overall Australian population.
The follow-up longitudinal study is seeking to better understand why
dementia prevalence among Aboriginal Australians is so much higher,
determine the incidence of new cases of dementia and the rate of
cognitive decline over time (six years), confirm risk and protective factors
and develop and evaluate prevention strategies.
Lewy Body Dementia exercise trial
Researchers in Sydney are now recruiting people with Lewy Body
Dementia to take part in a world-first trial investigating the effects of a
targeted eight-week exercise program on daily function, independence
and quality of life. The PRIDE Trial (Promoting Independence in Lewy
Body Dementia Through Exercise) is being conducted by researchers
from the University of Sydney in Lidcombe, and UNSW Australia. The
free, fully supervised program will be held on the Lidcombe campus, after
initial assessment sessions at participants’ homes. Lewy Body Dementia
accounts for up to 30% of all dementia diagnoses. Exercise has been
used successfully in similar conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and
Parkinson’s disease to improve daily function. For details on how to take
part, contact study investigator Michael Inskip on (02) 9351 9138 or email
.
Equipping nurses for aged care
Registered Nurses (RNs) are invited to take part in a short survey as part
of a study assessing the competencies of nurses working in aged care.
Associate Professor Victoria Traynor, from the University of Wollongong,
said the study aims to provide a much-needed framework for RNs
working with older people and their families. The researchers will develop
a free online resource which can be used by the aged care sector and
individual RNs to develop services, gerontological education programs
and nursing career pathways in community and residential care services.
Access the survey at: or
email for details.
$5000 Honours Scholarship
The last of six Honours Scholarships from the Dementia Training Study
Centres has been awarded to RMIT University Master of Architecture
student Xiyue Wang. Xiyue is one of six students to receive a $5000
scholarship for a new research project to improve the care of people with
dementia. Xiyue is currently undertaking a design studio at RMIT
investigating the relationship between architecture and people with
dementia. Her scholarship research project will investigate the design of
a dementia-friendly art precinct in the community.
News in brief
The HammondCare-led
consortium Dementia Support
Australia (DSA) has been
appointed to provide the new
national Dementia Behaviour
Management Advisory Service
(DBMAS). DSA has a contract
to operate the program for
three years from 1 October
2016.
The consortium was selected
after a tender process and
announced at the same time as
the Dementia Training
Australia appointment (see
story opposite). Both programs
are funded by the Australian
Government.
The other DSA consortium
partners include: Wintringham
(providing expertise in
supporting people with
alcohol-related dementia and
transitional care for complex
cases); Australian Regional &
Remote Community Services
(ARRCS) (to provide the
DBMAS service in the NT and
Top End); Blue Care
(supporting the service in
Qld/northern NSW); and the
Aged Care Channel (DSA’s
knowledge and capacity
building partner).
DSA’s DBMAS replaces the
eight separate state/territory-
based providers who were
delivering DBMAS services up
to 30 September this year.
HammondCare’s Chief
Executive Dr Stephen Judd
said DSAwould provide a
nationally consistent approach
to dementia support, with a
strong local presence and a
tailored service.
“Our experience in running
NSW DBMAS and the national
Severe Behaviour Response
Teams, along with the strength
and experience of our partners,
will enable DSA’s commitment
to provide a DBMAS with a
‘boots on the ground’
approach,” Dr Judd said.
DSA also intended to build
dementia capacity and
knowledge across the sector by
extensively sharing advice and
expertise.
“One of our key ambitions is
that – through the course of
this contract – skills, expertise
and applied knowledge
regarding ‘dementia
behaviour’ become
widespread across the sector,
and not just the attributes of a
few,” Dr Judd said.
HammondCare also
operates the Severe Behaviour
Response Teams (SBRTs),
launched in November 2015 to
provide a second tier of
support to the DBMAS, for
RACFs caring for people
exhibiting severe behavioural
and psychological symptoms
of dementia.
Between November 2015
and August 2016 the SBRTs
received 381 referrals for
residents exhibiting a wide
range of BPSD, with
aggression and agitation the
most common BPSD triggering
referrals.
HammondCare heads
new-look DBMAS
Dr Stephen Judd
Writing for AJDC: Do you have a project or survey to report, or a change in practice
organisation or structure which has worked well (or not), and would you like to share this
experience with others? We welcome contributions of this kind, as well as bright ideas for
improving the environment or well-being of people with dementia, and letters to the editor
responding to articles in AJDC. Contact Richard Fleming at
The Australian Journal of Dementia Care is a multidisciplinary journal for all professional staff
working with people with dementia, in hospitals, nursing and aged care homes, day units and the
community. The journal is committed to improving the quality of care provided for people with
dementia, by keeping readers abreast of news and views, research, developments, practice and
training issues. The Australian Journal of Dementia Care is grounded firmly in practice and
provides a lively forum for ideas and opinions.