Dementia Dialogues with DTA

Aggression

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.   We’d like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands. 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. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. We’d like to give special thanks to our contributors and researchers for this episode. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, tools and resources please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact info@dta.com.au or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Environments

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…  We’d like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands. 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. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. We’d like to give special thanks to our contributors and researchers for this episode. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, tools and resources please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact info@dta.com.au or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Allied Health

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.  We’d like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands. 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. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. We’d like to give special thanks to our contributors and researchers for this episode. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, tools and resources please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact info@dta.com.au or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Wandering and Getting Lost with Dementia

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. We’re joined by DTA's Changed Behaviour expert, Margaret MacAndrew, for an insightful conversation. Whether you're a carer, clinician, or simply curious, this episode offers practical knowledge and compassionate perspectives on a topic more common than many realise. We’d like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands. 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. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, tools and resources please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact info@dta.com.au [info@dta.com.au] or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Stan Sharkey - The Legend (Part 3)

For the final part of our 3 part series of Stan Sharkey and his life, made possible by our sit down interview with his daughter Emma (and yes, her beautiful newborn son Cooper) we’ll be discussing Stan’s transition into full time care, the importance of care from the perspective of a loved one, and how diagnosis doesn’t have to become how they’re defined, even after they’re gone.  We’d like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands. 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 thank Stan’s daughter, Emma for her contribution in the making of this episode, in recognition of Dementia Action Week. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, tools and resources please visit dta.com.au. For more information about the podcast, please contact info@dta.com.au [info@dta.com.au] or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.