Activities directors’ quarterly - Volume 10, Number 3

• Full text articles are available to fee paying members of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

Notes from nursing : Obtaining information from the Internet p.5
Therapeutic music: name that tune - lesson plan
Goals - to reminiscence and self esteem of the individual increasing quality of life, includes group size, locations, facilitator, staff requirements, duration, equipment needed and objectives .p. 23

Exercise - proven activities, includes seated exercises, walking, and exercise tips. p. 26

Seasonal Planner - Special Pullout Section - includes national pizza month, daylight savings time ends, national chocolate covered anything day - Activities to celebrate the season p. 24

Communicating with Spanish-speaking patients with severe dementia who manifest aggressive behavior
- looks at effective communication - includes a hierarchy of aggression management in bilingual patients with dementia table …..p.9

Washers: A great American game a popular outdoor activity - will benefit those who have an interest horseshoes and need to increase their physical activity, social interaction, cognition, and quality of life - interest may be stimulated by one on one competition such as tournaments. p.13

Intergenerational programs: Connecting young and old through meaningful activities
Great for residents that loved children in the past; expressed an interest in children or teaching, or miss children in their lives… Young and old can connect and help each other live more active and meaningful lives while volunteering to help others ...p. 17

In-service for intergenerational volunteers
Includes learning objectives for teens or adults, stresses that ageing is not the same as disability or disease, things to do when you visit… p.27

Life’s luxuries: Handcrafted herbal soaps
This intervention can be adapted to engage residents of all levels of functioning, can provide opportunities for numerous add on activities and provide the residents with an opportunity to harvest the herbs and flowers in their gardens. p.37

Non-pharmacological approaches to pain
Tips on how to recognize and help alleviate chronic pain for residents of long term care facilities - includes verbal signs of pain, facial expressions, body language, physical relief approaches, cognitive techniques and distraction methods that can be provided by activity staff... p.4

Neurology Now

September/October 2009, Volume 5, Issue 5

Rolle With It
Epilepsy is nothing to hide or be embarrassed about, says Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle. By speaking openly about his seizures, Rolle has helped show the National Football League-and the world-that epilepsy is a manageable disease, not something to be shrouded in mystery.

Autism
Early Intervention in Autism
Children with autism spectrum disorders can benefit from treatment at any age, but researchers are finding that early diagnosis and intervention may create the most dramatic improvements. Here, we explore some of the major forms of treatment and how they have improved the lives of three children.

Fibromyalgia: Is Fibromyalgia Real?
Fibromyalgia used to be a wastebasket diagnosis for patients with unexplained pain and fatigue. Today, more and more neurologists are acknowledging that fibromyalgia is a real disorder, and one that should be treated by neurologists who care for chronic pain-not only the rheumatologists who originally identified the condition some 100 years ago.

Multiple System Atrophy
You can control orthostatic hypotension in multiple system atrophy.

Get It in Writing!!
Advance directives, such as living wills, put you in charge of your health.

July/August 2009, Volume 5, Issue 4

What to Tell Your Neurologist

Still Alice - book review reserve this book by emailing Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

Victoria Williams
Bittersweet Symphony: With gratitude and hope, acclaimed singer-songwriter and MS sufferer Victoria Williams faces the music…
You may never have heard of singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, but many of today's legendary musicians, like Lou Reed and Lucinda Williams, cite her as an inspiration. Here, she opens up about her ongoing struggle with multiple sclerosis.

Alzheimer's and dementia
Your Heart, Your Belly and Alzheimer's: People with so-called "metabolic syndrome" may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Here's what you should know…
People with metabolic syndrome-obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes-may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia. Controlling these risk factors might help prevent or slow disease progression-but the time to act is now.

Caregiving
Who's There? When stroke or Alzheimer's changes a person's behavior, caregiving can become extreme. Here, experienced caregivers, patients, and experts share their stories and advice…
When stroke or Alzheimer's changes a person's behavior, caregiving can become extreme. Who is this person you've known all your life? And how do you handle the agitation, increased aggression, paranoia, and even psychosis that can accompany a neurological condition like dementia? Read on for practical tips from experts, caregivers, and the cared-for.

Wellness in the Workplace: How and why to take advantage of preventive care coverage.

May/June 2009, Volume 5, Issue 3

No Joke
Actor Robert Guillaume has had many memorable roles, including Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and the witty butler Benson DuBois on Soap and Benson. Here, the veteran actor remembers the day a stroke changed his life-and the warnings he didn't take seriously enough.

Stroke
Black, White, & Gray
African Americans are more likely than their white counterparts to suffer and die from a stroke, more likely to suffer a stroke at a younger age, and often take longer to recover than whites. Researchers are just starting to find out why.

Prosthetic limbs
The Six Million Dollar Arm
Just 23 years old and five months out of the Marines, Claudia Mitchell lost her left arm in a motorcycle accident. Jason Koger lost both arms in an electrical accident. Today, they can move their prosthetic arms in complex ways-and in real time-just by thinking about it. These new bionic arms are the product of decades of work by Todd Kuiken, M.D., Ph.D., a physiatrist and biomechanical engineer.

Parkinson's Disease Video with Holly Robinson Peete!!.
Where to go for more information on the topics discussed in this issue of Neurology Now and for a directory of patient advocacy organizations.

March/April 2009, Volume 5, Issue 2

FEATURE
The Great Brain
Computer programmer, entrepreneur, Jimi Hendrix superfan, venture philanthropist-Paul Allen wears a lot of hats. He also founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2003 to help find cures for neurological illnesses. This year the AAN is honoring Allen with their Public Leadership in Neurology award.

Pain
More than a feeling
New approaches to diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome are redefining what was once thought of as mystery pain. For years, doctors have viewed some pain patients as having psychological or substance-abuse problems. But that is changing.

Brain cooling
Your Brain on Ice
Cooling the body after cardiac arrest or stroke can save precious brain function. In Europe, cooling has become the standard of care for cardiac arrest. In the U.S., It's a complete hit or miss, says Stephan Mayer, M.D., who runs a cooling unit, depending on where you live and where the ambulance takes you. Here's what you should know about cooling's risks and benefits.

Eye on therapy
Thinking about Ginkgo?
Thinking about ginkgo biloba for Alzheimer's prevention?

Living well
Proof and Consequences
Before you undergo treatment, look closely at the evidence.

Restless leg syndrome
Answers to your questions about restless leg syndrome, depression, shingles, and autism.

January/February 2009, Volume 5, Issue 1

Screening room
The Savages reserve this DVD by emailing Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

Holly Robinson Peete
Good Golly, Miss Holly!!.
Here's a lesser-known credit on TV actress Holly Robinson Peete's resume: Parkinson's disease advocate. Holly and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, founded Hollyrod to financially and medically support people with Parkinson's.

Epilepsy
Eating Well for Epilepsy
Epilepsy is the most common major childhood neurologic disorder in the United States. For the children who don't respond to antiepileptic medication, the ketogenic diet-which contains a large amount of fat and few carbohydrates-may be effective treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis
Hitting the Mattress with MS.
Many patients with multiple sclerosis also experience sleep disorders, including sleep-related movement disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behavioral disorder, and narcolepsy. Sometimes MS is the cause of sleep disorders and sometimes it is a co-existing condition. Here's what you need to know about treatment.

Eye on therapy
Fueling the Migraine Fire
Overusing narcotics and barbiturates may worsen migraine headache.

Clean Bill of Health.
Should you hire a medical billing advocate?

The State of Stem Cell Research
The state of stem cell research: where we are and where we're headed in


November/December 2008, Volume 4, Issue 6

Access Denied for Muscular Dystrophy Drug.

Diminished Capacity

From Hero to Advocate
TV viewers may recognize Greg Grunberg from his starring role as telepathic detective Matt Parkman on the hit show Heroes. What most people don't realize is that the role closest to Grunberg's heart is advocating on behalf of his 12-year-old son Jake-as well as the roughly 45,000 children under the age of 15 who develop epilepsy each year.

Genetic Testing
Risky Business
Since the sequencing of the human genome was completed in 2003, researchers have found risk genes for numerous medical conditions. Now, there is a growing number of companies offering genetic tests directly to customers. But how valid and helpful are these test results for the average consumer?

Seizure
The Seizures No One Wants to Talk About
Approximately one-third of epilepsy patients have uncontrollable seizures that don't respond to medication. And about 15-30 percent of these patients actually have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, which are caused not by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain but by underlying psychological disturbances. One major obstacle on the path to treatment is acceptance of the diagnosis.

September/October 2008, Volume 4, Issue 5

New Study Links Parkinson's and Pesticides


FEATURE
Even Cowboys Get Migraines
During the 1990s, Troy Aikman was a recordsetting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, leading them to three Super Bowl wins. He built a Hall-of-Fame career while suffering from migraine, an often debilitating neurological condition that afflicts nearly 30 million Americans. But it was almost 35 years after first experiencing symptoms that Aikman was finally diagnosed with migraine-because he never consulted a doctor about his pain.

Hydrocephalus
Hidden Pressure
Adult normal pressure hydrocephalus is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease-or simply chalked up to aging. But it is a reversible condition, and thanks to advances in shunt technology, the treatments are safer than ever before.

Brain Cancer
Life after Brain Tumor
As treatment advances help people with malignant brain tumors live longer, the medical community is paying more attention to the qualities of cancer survivors' lives after surgery.


July/August 2008, Volume 4, Issue 4

Common Drugs May Cause Cognitive Problems.

Compassionate Minds
On the CBs drama Criminal Minds, shemar Moore plays the role of FBI special agent Derek Morgan, part of an elite team of profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds and anticipate their next moves before they strike again. In real life, Moore is committed to eradicating a different kind of villain: multiple sclerosis, a chronic and potentially debilitating neurological disease that affects over 400,000 Americans, including his mother, Marilyn Wilson-Moore.


Proceed With Caution
Driving advice for people with epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, and their families…
Many people with neurological conditions-such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease face driving challenges. However, regular driving assessments, treatment of those conditions, and access to alternative modes of transportation can help ensure that people retain their independence without endangering themselves or others.

Amnesia
Am I Nothing but What I Remember?
At 21, Denise Reagor assumed that she knew who she was, sure, there were discoveries to be made, but she figured her personality was pretty much formed. Most of us make the same assumption, and most of us are wrong. If you've ever wondered what it's like to rebuild your life from scratch, read the story of Reagor's amnesia.


May/June 2008, Volume 4, Issue 3

Give Me 5 For Stroke
14 Beauty and the Brain
Despite her pin-up allure, Morgan Fairchild knows the most important part of a woman is her brain. That's why she has teamed up with the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American Stroke Association to raise awareness about stroke. Learn more about the Give Me 5 For Stroke campaign in Beauty and the Brain.

Women and Epilepsy
Nearly 1 million women and girls in the United States are affected by epilepsy. This article discusses the ramifications that epilepsy holds for women -from the impact of menstruation on seizures to the effects of antiepileptic drugs on pregnancy-and provides practical advice to help women manage epilepsy instead of letting it manage them.

Massage
Healing Touch
Research shows that people who suffer with multiple sclerosis (MS)-as well as migraine headaches, Parkinson's disease, and HIV-related neuropathy-may experience benefits from massage therapy. Healing Touch discusses how massage can help people with neurological conditions, when massage should not be used, and how to find a good massage therapist.

http://www.neurologynow.com/pt/re/neuronow/issuelist.htm;jsessionid=KfLVtWhHh9ZXRQcfYPZs1LD2pp0pR0yChWNjnftZC8VnVKSBDdTQ!-1127164547!181195628!8091!-1

Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association

Volume 5, Issue 5, Pages 369-444 (September 2009)

Featured Articles

Treatment effects of Memantine on language in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease patients
Language impairment is one of the most troublesome manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this post hoc analysis was to assess the treatment effects of Memantine on language in patients with moderate to severe AD, using the recently developed Severe Impairment Battery-Language (SIB-L) scale.
Conclusions
Memantine treatment of AD patients results in significant benefits for language function. Our results suggest that it is worth considering this therapeutic option, even for AD patients with marked language impairment.
pages 369-374

Severe Impairment Battery Language scale: A language-assessment tool for Alzheimer's disease patients
Background
Communication problems are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, but instruments to assess these symptoms are limited. Our objective was to create a new scale, based on the language subscale of the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), as a sensitive and reliable measurement of treatment effects on language performance.
Conclusions
The new SIB-L is a fast (<15 minutes) and easily administered scale with favorable psychometric characteristics for assessing language impairment and treatment effects on the language performance of patients with moderate to severe AD.
pages 375-379

“Below average” self-assessed school performance and Alzheimer's disease in the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study
Background
A low level of formal education is becoming accepted as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although increasing attention has been paid to differences in educational quality, no previous studies addressed participants' own characterizations of their overall performance in school. We examined whether self-assessed school performance is associated with AD beyond the effects of educational level alone.
Conclusions
We suggest an association between “below average” self-assessed school performance and AD beyond the known association with formal education. Efforts to increase cognitive reserve through better school performance, in addition to increasing the number of years of formal education in early life, may be important in reducing vulnerability throughout the life course.
pages 380-387

Current Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Methods and placebo outcomes
Background
Eighteen-month-long randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are common for phase II and phase III drug development for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, no 18-month trial has shown statistically significant outcomes favoring the test drug. We examined characteristics and underlying assumptions of these trials by assessing the placebo groups.
Conclusions
Inclusion criteria are essentially similar to earlier 6-month and 12-month trials in which cholinesterase inhibitors were not allowed, as were mean ADAS-cog rates of change. Yet increasing variability and relatively little change overall in the ADAS-cog placebo groups, eg, about 25% of patients do not worsen by more than 1 point, might make it more unlikely than previously assumed that a modestly effective drug can be reliably recognized, especially when the drug might work only to attenuate decline in function and not to improve function. These observations would be strengthened by pooling individual trials data, and pharmaceutical sponsors should participate in such efforts.
pages 388-397

Association of C-reactive protein with mild cognitive impairment
Background
Inflammation is proposed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, and may also be involved in the pathogenesis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study examined the association of inflammatory markers in serum or plasma with prevalent MCI and MCI subtypes in a population-based sample.
Conclusions
Plasma CRP is associated with prevalent MCI and with nonamnestic MCI in elderly, nondemented persons in a population-based setting. These findings suggest the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of MCI.
pages 398-405

Defining and labeling disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be treated with symptomatic, neuroprotective, or neurorestorative therapies. Neuroprotective and neurorestorative interventions are disease-modifying therapies. Disease modification can be defined as treatments or interventions that affect the underlying pathophysiology of the disease and have a beneficial outcome on the course of AD. In a clinical trial the criteria for affecting the underlying cause of the disease can be supported by demonstrating an effect on a biomarker such as medial temporal atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or diminished tau or phospho-tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid. The claim for a beneficial effect on the clinical course of AD is supported by a drug-placebo difference on the primary clinical outcomes of the clinical trial. A statistically significant correlation between the biomarker outcome and the clinical trial outcome would support the claim that these are based on the same underlying mechanism. Delayed start or staggered withdrawal designs might in themselves support a disease-modifying claim but are difficult to implement. A combination of clinical outcomes and biomarker measures is a more likely pathway to a disease-modifying claim. Labeling of disease-modifying agents might refer to slowing of disease progression, delay in reaching predefined disease milestones, or reduction in progression of a biomarker such as cerebral atrophy or ventricular enlargement on MRI. Prevention claims will depend heavily on biomarker outcomes. pages 406-418

Reducing dangerous nighttime events in persons with dementia by using a nighttime monitoring system
Background
Nighttime activity, a common occurrence in persons with dementia, increases the risk for injury and unattended home exits and impairs the sleep patterns of caregivers. Technology is needed that will alert caregivers of nighttime activity in persons with dementia to help prevent injuries and unattended exits.
Conclusions
When nighttime activity occurred, it resulted in severe injuries sometimes associated with subsequent nursing home placement. The night monitoring system represents a new technology that caregivers can use to assist them in preventing nighttime injuries and unattended home exits in care recipients with dementia.
pages 419-426

Perspectives

Alzheimer's disease drug development and the problem of the blood-brain barrier
Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development is limited by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). More than 98% of all small-molecule drugs, and 100% of all large-molecule drugs, do not cross the BBB. Although the vast majority of AD drug candidates do not cross the BBB, the present-day AD drug-development effort is characterized by an imbalance wherein >99% of the drug-development effort is devoted to central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery, and <1% of drug development is devoted to CNS drug delivery. Future AD drug development needs a concerted effort to incorporate BBB sciences early in the CNS drug discovery process. This goal can be achieved by a reallocation of resources, and an expansion of research efforts in the pure science of BBB biology and the applied science of brain drug-targeting technology. pages 427-432

Commentary on “Alzheimer's disease drug development and the problem of the blood-brain barrier”
The perspective by Dr. William Pardridge entitled “Alzheimer's Disease Drug Discovery and the Problem of the Blood-Brain Barrier” makes a strong case for the imbalance in resource distribution to the drug-discovery and brain drug delivery processes, where the latter received less than 1% of the investment of the former. My own calculations are consistent with this striking imbalance. Dr. Pardridge predicts that current trials of passive immunity against β-amyloid peptide will likely fail, whereas past trials of active immunization exhibited trial-ending side effects, in part because of disruption of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. To bring an assessment of the physiology of the blood-brain barrier and the brain delivery of drugs to the fore, several changes are needed in the way we perceive the problem, train our young scientists, organize research efforts, and incentivize reaching our common goals of effective drug therapy for Alzheimer's disease. pages 433-434

A caregiver's training manual for the elderly : Alzheimer's and other dementia

A caregiver's training manual for the elderly : Alzheimer's and other dementia

• reserve this book by emailing Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

This manual is a detailed caregiver's guide to activities of daily living for the elderly with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Lesson plans are included, giving practical advice on daily tasks of dining, bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and behavior. This book addresses those skills that individuals with Dementia lose as the disease progresses. Teaching examples of how to help the loved one learn, unlearn, relearn, or at least maintain his/her skills at their present level and improve their quality of life is stressed.

Total Relaxation - Healing Practices for Body, Mind & Spirit

Total Relaxation - Healing Practices for Body, Mind & Spirit - reserve this book by emailing Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

DOES STRESS HAVE A GRIP ON YOUR BODY, MIND AND SPRIT?

Whether it shows up as lower-back pain, insomnia, low-level anxiety, or just general malaise, tension can grip our lives and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Dr. John Harvey has organized his relaxation techniques into five different categories to help you discover where your tension resides.

Using a symptom checklist, you can match your symptoms against the five levels of relaxation - muscular,

autonomic,

emotional,

mental,

or spiritual...

Learn the proven techniques that will guide you to a relaxed, tension-free state quickly and effectively. Some of these relaxation techniques have been practiced for centuries, some of them were developed by twentieth-century physicians who have researched the effects of prolonged stress on the human body, and some of them have been developed by Dr. Harvey himself, drawing on his years of treating patients worn out by thestress of everyday life. Using these techniques, anyone can achieve Total Relaxation.

A sixty-minute CD containing four guided relaxation techniques is included at the back of this book.

New resources for carers of people with dementia

Dementia
Offers young readers and researchers a means of understanding various ailments and conditions, explaining what these conditions are, what causes them, how people live with them, and the latest information about treatment and prevention.



Therapeutic art activities for Alzheimer's / dementia patients
Offers young readers and researchers a means of understanding various ailments and conditions, explaining what these conditions are, what causes them, how people live with them, and the latest information about treatment and prevention.


And still the music plays
Using 22 stories, the author draws on his memories of people with dementia he has met to bring the reader a greater understanding of the condition and why some people behave in the way they do. The central theme is that everyone with dementia is unique, with a distinctive personality and experiences, and it is only by thinking deeply about each person individually that we can respond to their unique needs and give the best care possible.




Living well with dementia
DVD offers descriptions of how a person living with dementia can have an enjoyable life by examining; living at home with the care of family members and social activities and residential care facilities that are person centred and use dementia specific training, environments and activities to help the person with dementia and their family and friends to live well.

On any given day : June 21
This presentation represents a typical day for UnitingCare Ageing...it reflects what happens across UnitingCare Ageing on any given day. Our vision - inspired care…enriching lives together. Our mission -To enable well-being, we care for people in our living and working communities.

INsite - October / November 2009 Issue 56

• Full text articles are available to fee paying members of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW at lis@alznsw.asn.au

Penalised facility speaks out
The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, publicly declared a facility “non-compliant” before the investigating officers had finished their report on which she based her statement. She also directed the Accreditation Agency to conduct an unannounced, full audit at the same time the investigation was boosted by a police presence, and reported on by TV, radio and print media. Peninsula Village, a not-for-profit, 263 bed facility on the NSW Central Coast, has detailed the horrifying treatment it experienced, in the hope that other facilities can learn from and avoid similar instances. Speaking at the recent ACSA national conference in Perth, CEO Terri Parker and supported care services manger Melinda Dempsey detailed the “compliance chaos” which followed an incident on the long weekend in October 2008. Following an initial report, a male staff member was suspended. Parker then reviewed the documentation on the Tuesday and sought advice from the quality and compliance unit as to whether it was a compulsory report. They advised reporting as “better than safe than sorry”….p.4

Mandatory reporting not working: survey
Just one in every 100 mandatory reports of physical or sexual abuse results in police charges, while one in every 200 results in a conviction, new research claims…p. 1

Awards will cost nurses, and care
Aged care nurses look set to be further financially disadvantaged with the introduction of the government’s award modernisation process… p. 3

Bonds issue slammed
The Australian National Audit Office has attacked the Department of Health and Ageing’s monitoring and regulation of $8 billion worth of aged care bonds. p. 4

Consumers, providers agree on road map for future
Older people should contribute to the costs of care according to their capacity to pay. And the costs of accommodation should be separate to the costs of care and support. p. 5

Debate over right to refuse treatment
A recent West Australian Supreme Court ruling has revived debate about the right to refuse medical treatment and the “right to die” issue. It has also raised the role of palliative care in such cases. p. 7

Cleaning up a worrying problem
Discusses the issue of elderly living in squalor and moves to address it…The majority of older people living in squalor have cognitive impairment. Most have alcohol-related brain damage or schizophrenia…p. 9

The importance of image
It is time to create a positive perception of the industry…employees surveyed said the industry should promote itself as caring, compassionate, understanding and supporting, using positive testimonials…11

Ten green bottles
Are we being driven by the care needs of the residents or by the fear of non-complience… Once upon a time my only experience of an agency was to book staff and the only thing I ever validated was my parking ticket. I actually believed a support contact was just that, so I was very surprised, to say the least, when the agency was not what I would describe as supportive. p. 12

Doing it differently

Capacity building and empowerment should be at the forefront of community care…p. 15

One world, one home
There can be no denying the significant challenge posed by the growing number of culturally and linguistically diverse residents. A provider
new inclusive facility is home to 19 different nationalities…p. 18

Clever moments
A burning question
…using a quality improvement questionnaire to educate staff and imporove their standards of care - by raising awareness of workplace policies and procedures..
Playing around
…connecting older people living in the home with younger mothers and their children (via play group associations). The group allows its members to share precious moments together in the home, and to play together and learn in a fun environment…p. 19

Continence
Forecasting future industry need…p. 25
A little care goes a long way…p. 26
Continence first hits Australia …p. 29
New device hits market …p. 30

Technology
A gain for the brain
A brain fitness program in WA has produced exciting results
see www.brainfitnessaustralia.org.au

Getting from A to B
Advances in GPS navigation systems could revolutionize the delivery of community care…p. 33

On the record
The government is behind on e-health records, but providers are making it happen for themselves…p. 34

Nutrition
Now is the ideal time to get out the summer menu and put some thought into how you could maximize differences to the winter menu. Use seasonal variations, puddings can also create a way to help create seasonal variations…p. 36

Interior design
A coming of age
A competitive environment and client expectations are upping the ante on aged care interior design. The development of the extra service standard of facility paved the way for more innovative design and decoration…p. 38
Five star designs
Sir Moses Montefiore Aged Care recognised there was a need a high standard of accommodation, and they have been proven correct with all 276 residential rooms occupied..p.40
The re-emergence of small?
The funding model and regulatory framework have been the driving forces behind the trend towards larger facilities, but will this continue…p. 41

Poster
Multicultural activities
Ways to foster and value individual customs, culture and ethnic backgrounds
eg - continental breakfast; Culture club: exploring the traditions and customs of other countries; Etude seated dance; Still life displays and 3D art hostel and low care settings; Spirituality and food: exploring Bible stories and cultures through food; Shavout - sensory enrichment dementia activity: Cultural food themes: Corroboree

New DVD on volunteering

True friendships : volunteering in day clubs

A key message is that anyone interested in working with older people in a friendly, local community setting can volunteer to work in a day care club. The volunteers on the DVD convey a sense of fulfillment, enjoyment, reward and good fun from being a volunteer.

New resources on depression

Stories of hope & recovery : personal accounts of depression, anxiety and related disorders

• Features the 20-minute ABC Landline "Black dog" program on rural men, alcohol and depression.

Beyondblue guide to the management of depression in primary care : guide for health professionals

• The word depression can be used to describe a mood (sometimes normal, sometimes signalling a problem) or an illness (or disorder). It is a word that has meaning in common parlance as well as in the clinical setting. Whether we are talking about the common parlance depression, or a severe clinical depression, each may require help, be it from friends or professionals.

New books on dementia care

Come into my world : how to interact with a person who has dementia : an educational resource for undergraduate healthcare students on person-centred care

Though the educational resource has been developed for undergraduate students in the first instance, it is also intended to be helpful for educators across multiple undergraduate healthcare disciplines. It is envisaged that the combined use of the DVD and workbook, by illustrating examples of the person-centred care approach in real-life situations, and behaviours of concern, will help undergraduate healthcare students to enhance their professional practice.



A guide to dementia care

A Guide To Dementia Care is a wide ranging introduction to the nature of dementia and also the existing support framework. Now revised and updated to 2009, it is the perfect book for all those who wish to develop their knowledge of this area. Includes information on the brain, behaviour, causes and symptoms, treatments, therapies, and financial support.



Contented dementia : 24-hour wraparound care for lifelong well-being

...outlines a groundbreaking and practical method for managing dementia that will allow both sufferer and carer to maintain the highest possible quality of life, throughout every stage of the illness. A person with dementia will experience random and increasingly frequent memory blanks relating to recent events. Feelings, however, remain intact, as do memories of past events and both can be used in a special way to substitute for more recent information that has been lost. The specal method (specialized early care for alzheimer's) outlined in this book works by creating links between past memories and the routine activities of daily life in the present.



Courage to care : a caregiver's guide through each stage of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is often referred to as a family disease because of the constant emotional strain it places on family members as they watch their loved ones slowly slip away. But for those left with caring for their loved ones, the emotional, physical, and financial toll can be enormous-so much so that most caregivers fail to take care of themselves and become depressed, ill and unable to continue their role as caregiver.