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On this episode of the Dementia Podcast, Colm chats with Michelle Heldon, Art and Dementia Coordinator for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia and Lead Artist for the Arts Engagement team at HammondCare.

In the episode Michelle chats with Colm about family inspiration, the benefits of art expression in Dementia Care and anecdotes from her time working in remote communities around the world.

In addition, Michelle shares the challenges that COVID brought to the Arts Engagement program but also new opportunities the digital space brought to the program.

A key point mentioned by Michelle was the role of play in art and in care. One of the resources mentioned regarding this was the book Playfulness and Dementia: A Practice Guide by John Killick.

If you’d like to hear more in our Talking Art series you can tune in to the episode, Talking Arts: A child’s storybook creating-conversation


Podcast quick fact: Eudaimonia – The human condition of human flourishing or living well.


Additional resources:

HammondCare’s Arts on Prescription Program

Reactions of Persons with Dementia to Singing from People

Artful: Art and Dementia – MCA Australia

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On this episode of the Dementia Podcast, Colm chats with Steve Macfarlane, Head of Clinical Services at Dementia Support Australia and Lynne Sewell whose husband, Rick, is living with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).  

In the episode Steve gives us a clinical overview of FTD, the differences from types of Dementia like Alzheimer's disease, typical features of the condition and outlines current treatment options.   

Lynne then shares her story and advocacy for Rick, from his diagnosis to the challenges of finding assistance, both in terms of care and living arrangements.  

One of the key areas that is brought up in the podcast is the diagnosis, the way in which it was delivered and what post-diagnostic care and support both Rick and Lynne received. If you’d like to learn more about finding support after diagnosis, we’d encourage you to visit Forward with Dementia.  

Lynne also shares with Colm about her role as Rick’s full-time carer and experiences of living with someone with FTD, the sources of support she has relied on and her journey to accessing specialist disability accommodation.   

If you’d like to hear more about our Talking Dementia series and more about post diagnostic care we’d love for you to have a listen of one of our previous episodes, Talking Dementia: Diagnosis and Post-Diagnostic Care.  

Additional resources and support services 

Dementia Support Australia  

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (US) 

Alzheimer’s Research UK (living with frontotemporal dementia) 

Alzheimer’s Disease International (Details of your local support associations)  

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In this episode of the Dementia Podcast, Colm is talking all things International Dementia Conference #IDC2022. Being hosted in Sydney, Australia on 8-9 September 2022 the #dementiaposdcast team is excited to share the news that the Call for Papers is now live!

Colm is in conversation with Judi Lewis, General Manager of Marketing at HammondCare about the upcoming conference and the important theme of: Brave New World. 

As the aged care sector continues to navigate profound challenges, there has never been a more important moment to be brave and stand with people with dementia in shaping a better future. International Dementia Conference: Brave New World invites you to share your big ideas for shaking up the sector and creating lasting positive change. 

If you’re a health care professional, researcher or community carer, or if you have lived experience of dementia, we encourage you to submit an abstract to present at the International Dementia Conference in Sydney on 8-9 September 2022.

To find out more and submit an abstract, click here and should need any support in submitting an abstract or want to get in touch, you can via our email [email protected]

Early Bird Registrations open on 1 June. For latest updates and IDC2022 news, subscribe to our newsletter.

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On this episode of the Dementia Podcast, Colm chats with three members of the COGNISANCE project, Bill Yeates, Dr Dorota Szcześniak & return guest Dr Meredith Gresham. Together they chat with Colm about current problems with the way a dementia diagnosis is communicated and support people with dementia and carers afterwards, as well as how the project has developed accessible online resources to better support people with dementia, carers and health care professionals.  

In the episode Bill shares his experience of receiving his diagnosis and the road to finding a way forward. Bill is a member of the co-designed COGNISANCE project– an international program that comprises a group of passionate individuals trying to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia and provide practical pathways for post-diagnostic care.  

The podcast coincides with the launch of the Forward with Dementia website, which aims to be an international guide to living well in the first year after diagnosis, and includes regular newsletters and a growing bank of important resources. 

If you’d like to hear more about our Talking Dementia series we’d love for you to have a listen of one of our previous episodes and the introduction to the series, Talking Dementia: What is Dementia with Steve Macfarlane and Holly Markwell.

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Colm sits down with return guests Annie and Ricky Pollock to talk design. Design is one of the major pillars at HammondCare’s Dementia Centre and this episode is a revealing look as to why that might be.  

Annie and Ricky were last on the show for the episode Talking Design: Air Quality, Acoustics and Dementia. 

In the episode Ricky and Annie talk about their road to architecture and what made accessible design their passion and focus. Annie expounds on her many years of experience in designing smart and immersive outside spaces – more from Annie can be found in her free book, A Breath of Fresh Air. In addition, Ricky speaks about the relationship between the outside and inside space and the legibility of the building and more.  

They also speak to the practicalities of the push and pull in conversations of design, of minimum standards and about what to keep in mind when designing accessible spaces. 

If you’d like more on accessible design we’d love for you to check out one of our previous episodes, Talking Design: Why it can ‘provoke’ behaviour with Liz Fuggle and Meredith Gresham. In addition, you can also purchase the book, Designing Outdoor Spaces for People with Dementia edited by Mary Marshall and Annie Pollock.

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Meredith Gresham returns to chat with Colm in our very first episode for 2022.  

In today’s episode, Colm and Meredith talk about toilets. Since continence is a major issue in residential and home care, they discuss strategies and tips on how best to provide accessible and hygienic care. 

Meredith’s last episode on the podcast, Talking Design: Why it can ‘provoke’ behaviour touched on design principles and once again they discuss simple and effective ways to aid a person with dementia this time focusing on the process during toileting.  

Often the role of a carer in toileting is a difficult one to manage and Meredith offers a potential look at an alternative method in relation to bidets. They discuss the use of bidets in a care setting and the surprisingly positive and rapid uptake and acceptance by residents and carers.  For more on the use of Bidets in care we have a three-part video series that can be accessed here - https://www.dementiacentre.com/resources/knowledge-hub/news/150-toilet-talk-accessible-design-for-people-with-dementia

In addition, Meredith outlines potentially other advantages of the bidet, such as a more hygienic and comfortable experience for the person using the toilet, which in turn may aid continence.  

For more about accessibility in toilet design we’d love for you to have a look at our free Toilet Talk resource from the Dementia Design Essentials. 

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In this Christmas episode of The Dementia Podcast, Talking Dementia: Festive tips for celebrations, Colm is joined by author and dementia champion, Agnes Houston and Dementia Consultants, Colleen McDonald and Ashley Roberts to share their experience of how to make your holiday event fun for everyone in the family.  

Colm speaks with Agnes about the sensory impacts of dementia on the person, and what to consider when including a person with dementia at busy and often noisy occasions. Colleen shares her thoughts on how to plan and present the festive feast so the person with dementia can take part. While Colm and Ashley focus on the importance of looking after yourself at this busy time, taking a break, and sharing the caring role with others.  

Access Agnes’ book as a free download or audiobook here “Talking Sense” 

You can find more books and resources at The Dementia Centre.
 
Information and support services for countries across the world can be found here.  

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from The Podcast Team

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It was a chance meeting with Mary Marshall in 1993, the then Professor at the University of Stirling and Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre, that inspired Annie and Ricky Pollock to introduce the principles of designing for people with dementia into all their projects.

In this episode of the Dementia Podcast “Talking Design: Air Quality, Acoustics, and Dementia”, Colm is joined by Annie and Ricky to announce the launch of two new books by the husband and wife team, “A Breath of Fresh Air” by Annie Pollock and “Acoustics in Aged Care” by Richard Pollock. 

Annie is an award-winning landscape architect with a particular interest in designing outdoor spaces for people living with dementia and the impact of poor air quality in the spaces we live, especially as we age. Ricky formed the architectural and planning consultancy firm Burnett Pollock Associates which specialises in the research and design of enabling care environments for people with dementia. 

Colm joins Annie and Ricky at their home in Edinburgh Scotland to talk about their new books, discuss how air quality and acoustics can impact the quality of life of a person living with dementia and give us practical advice on what we can do to improve the air quality and acoustics in environments where people with dementia live. 

A Breath of Fresh Air is also available as a free online download

To purchase your printed copy of A Breath of Fresh Air on the HammondCare eShop today 

Acoustics in Aged Care is available as a free online download

To purchase your printed copy of Acoustics in Aged Care on the HammondCare eShop today  

Additional resources 

The Room Outside by Annie Pollock and Colm Cunningham 

The Dementia Centre: DeMEntia Design School resources

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As we approach Christmas, join Colm and Claire McCarthy, Head of HammondCare Foundation, as they discuss the important work of the Foundation in raising funds to support people with dementia. 

In “Talking Engagement: HammondCare’s Christmas Appeal” we hear how this year’s Christmas fundraising event “Get on board” is about providing opportunities for our listeners to be involved in supporting residents in our care, including those with dementia, to experience activities that promote engagement, independence and wellbeing.

People with dementia can feel isolated from family and friends and the COVID-19 pandemic has only enhanced this. “Get on board” is about reconnecting residents through the purchase of wheelchair accessible buses, so they can get back to doing the things that matter to them.  

Colm and Claire also give some helpful tips on how to support a person with dementia to have a joyous time at Christmas celebrations, including how to engage the person in traditional Christmas activities, ensuring the environment isn’t too overwhelming, and providing a quiet space for rest. 

To find out more about HammondCare’s Christmas Appeal go to “Get on board”. 

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Join Colm and Mary Jane ‘MJ’ Grant as they discuss deafness and dementia care through their professional and personal experiences. MJ has produced some touching YouTube videos of how she engages and connects with her deaf mother who also has a diagnosis of dementia. In this podcast MJ talks about her journey as a carer of a deaf mother with dementia and importance of connection and support to maintain her mothers and her own wellbeing.  

MJ was raised by two deaf parents and has had a career as a professional sign language interpreter, recently opening her own private practise interpreting company ‘Mary Jane Grant Sign Language Interpreting Services’. She has worked with Deaf communities across the U.S. and has taught interpreting at the University of Southern Maine. MJ has experiences working with a wide variety of clientele including community work in the educational and mental health sectors, human services, as well as corporate and theatrical concert settings. In 2020, the State of Maine and Maine's Deaf community awarded MJ the Ginny Hewes-Advocate for the Needs of the Deaf Community. MJ manages her business and advocacy work in between moments at home with her husband, four children, and as a care-giver for her Deaf mother who has dementia. 

Download the Deafness and Dementia Guides and read more about MJ and The Dementia Centre's work here . MJ is currently looking to produce the USA version of our Deafness and Dementia Guides.  

This is MJ's YouTube Channel  YouTube channel which shares much of her story and work. 

The World Federation of the Deaf and this YouTube video provide fantastic resources for and insight into the deaf community.  

Here is a link to the fundraising page for the 'Remember When' Documentary which seeks to share MJ’s story and work.