Send us a text In this episode of The Dementia Podcast, Colm introduces an expert panel as they explore the care considerations for First Nations peoples with a particular focus on dementia care. Members of this panel include; Professor Dawn Bessarab, a Bard/Yindijibarndi woman, Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia, Stephanie Charlesworth, a Dementia Consultant from SA who has worked with First Nations communities a...

Send us a text In the final episode of this season of the Dementia Podcast, Ailsa talks with filmmaker Jason van Genderen and Megan van Genderen about their recently released documentary Everybody’s Oma and about the challenges, heartbreak and love captured in the film as they cared for Oma. Through Ailsa’s conversation with Jason and Megan we explore their journey of care, the choices they made to fight for and maintain Oma’s independence and the difficulties that brought, all during t...

Send us a text In our penultimate episode of the season, Colm talks with Susan Kurrle, a geriatrician, and professor at the faculty of medicine and health at the University of Sydney. Together they explore the differences in dementia and how progression for each person may vary. Ailsa continues her conversation with Jim and Clare, investigating their approach to getting the answers they searched for post-diagnosis. As Ailsa talks more with them, we find out how relationships also change...

Send us a text Ailsa heads to the Wurun Senior Campus in Melbourne to chat with the students about dementia and through the conversations we see some of the community perceptions. The students share generously about their own personal experiences and the education and information they have received about dementia. Looking at the community we hear once more from Donna Lee as she speaks to Ailsa about her support group. Colm talks with podcast regular, Prof Mary Marshall, professor Emerit...

Send us a text In this episode we join Colm as he heads over to chat with John Swinton, a theologian and a world leader in disability theology. John is also the chair in Divinity and Religious Studies, Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, University of Aberdeen. Colm talks with John about the journey he has been on in his career, and what has led him to do what he does now. They talk about knowing the whole person, and how important it is for that to inform the way w...

Send us a text We join Ailsa on a chilly Melbourne afternoon as she chats with Steve Macfarlane, head of clinical services for DSA. They discuss how a diagnosis is delivered and we hear from Clare and Jim as they recount the experience. One question the podcast asks is how early is early when it comes to picking up on a future diagnosis. To that end, we hear from Craig Ritchie as he explains looking for new ways to detect and measure the progression of the disease in the brain in a ‘silent p...

Send us a text In episode two of our new series, Ailsa heads over to talk to Dr Sally Cockburn, also known for her regular radio hosting role as ‘Dr Feelgood’ in her segment Talking Health with Dr Sally Cockburn They talk next steps, following on from those first signs, and what that process looks like for the GP and how Sally has handled those conversations. To find out more about this process Ailsa chats with Donna Lee, a dementia advocate at the International Dementia Conference that...

Send us a text The Dementia Podcast is back! In this the first episode in our new series, Starting Conversations, host Colm Cunningham is joined by author and resident guest, Ailsa Wild. Ailsa meets with her neighbours, Clare & Jim to talk about what it was like for them when Clare had those first signs of dementia and the conversation with their doctor receiving a diagnosis. Colm then joins Ailsa to talk about what some of those first signs might look like, as well as set the context f...

Send us a text In National Reconciliation Week: Be Brave Make Change, we wanted to reshare one of our episodes of ‘The Dementia Podcast’ from last year celebrating the history, culture and achievements of First Nations peoples. Joining Colm in this episode, HammondCare CEO Mike Baird shares what reconciliation means to HammondCare and why it is important to embark on the journey of reconciliation, acknowledging their role in caring for all people, including First Nations people living w...

Send us a text In this episode Colm shares the future plans for the podcast including a new seasonal format and an intermission period. #Savethedate for September when the Dementia Podcast will be back with weekly episodes. To stay up to date on our progress follow us @Dementia_Centre on twitter and check in our website dementiacentre.com. We always want to hear your ideas and feedback and as our Dementia Podcast production team are in planning mode for our first seasonal format...

Send us a text 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 Enga...

Send us a text 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,...

Send us a text 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...

Send us a text 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.  ...

Send us a text 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...

Send us a text 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 per...

Send us a text 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 ...

Send us a text 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 ...

Send us a text 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 th...

Send us a text 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 a...