Dementia Dialogues with DTA

Sometimes when you’re involved in the care of a person living with dementia, and you didn’t know them before diagnosis, it’s easy to forget there was usually a sign, or a tipping point, or a moment in time for their loved ones that lead to getting further answers.  And for so many, that part is the scariest for someone who knew them before. In this part of our sit-down interview with Stan’s daughter Emma (and with help from her newborn son Cooper), we chatted about understanding dementia; the potential myths and hardships involved with the diagnosis process and how that can change a family. 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 or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. 

We all know that when someone we care about gets a diagnosis of dementia, that sometimes it’s hard to think about anything else; that everything from that moment on becomes about their care, because it’s so important to their wellbeing. But like we’ve touched on in previous episodes, really knowing a person is a great place to start caring for them. After all, a dementia diagnosis isn’t a person’s whole life story, and it doesn’t have to be their defining character trait or legacy if we don’t want it to be. And with that in mind, we wanted to talk about Stan.  Stanley Sharkey, affectionately referred to as Stan by most who knew him, was a man of many talents, ambitions, and passions. He lived for the ideals of fairness and hard work, he lived for the underdog, and he lived for his family and loved ones. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Stan will also tell you he lived for the South Sydney Rabbitohs – a detail we’ll delve into a bit later. Over the years of his life, he built a name and reputation on the principle of a good and honourable fight – something to be respected and admired. And that was no easy feat. But in spite of every career milestone, every life goal achieved, he still saw himself as just a man from humble beginnings. And it’s where we’re starting off in this 3 part series, with the help of his daughter, Emma and her newborn son Cooper (who was eager to join in on the conversation)… 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 or engage with us on our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. 

Changed behaviour, if misunderstood, can sometimes seem like a frustrating and maybe even scary symptom of living with dementia - especially for loved ones and carers. On this episode, we’ll be looking at changed behaviour; what it is, how it presents and how understanding and education can help minimise the possibility of resulting negative experiences for people living with dementia and those who care for them. Dementia Training Australia would 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, including our available courses and resources on changed behaviour, 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. 

On this episode, we’ll be delving into the condition of delirium and how it affects those living with dementia - including the murky nature of how it presents itself, the possibility of subsequent misdiagnosis, and how education about delirium can help support workers improve care for people living with dementia. Dementia Training Australia would 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, including our available courses and resources on delirium and dementia, 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. 

On this Episode, and in honour and recognition of National Volunteer Week – with the key message for 2024 being “Something for everyone” - we’ll be exploring the importance of volunteers in the dementia care space, the role they play in ensuring quality care is provided to those living with dementia, and how dementia education can provide knowledge and confidence to these often thankless but essential support workers in the healthcare industry. Theme song: Sun Therapy - Sum WaveWe 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 acknowledge the valuable work of all volunteers in the dementia care space, with special thanks to researchers and contributors in the making of this episode. Dementia Dialogues with DTA is produced and funded by Dementia Training Australia. For more information about DTA and our training opportunities, including the Dementia Care Training for Volunteers Course mentioned in this episode, 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. 

DTA’s mission is to improve the knowledge and skills of the workforce who support people living with dementia and their carers. We focus on evidence-based standards in the development and delivery of practical education and learning pathways for individuals and organisations. And to expand on that delivery of practical education, we’ve launched this podcast series...Theme song: Sun Therapy - Sum WaveWe 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, including the Dementia Care Training for Volunteers Course mentioned in this episode, 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.