More action against dementia

“Dementia needs action now” is the theme of a conference being hosted by Dementia SA at The Pavilion Conference Centre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on the 25th and 26th October 2011. Three international speakers and local experts will discuss the treatment, management and care of people with dementia of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

The conference will explore some of the global methods and best practices in caring for people with dementia.  The all-important factor is to maintain respect and dignity for the person with the disease and to ensure that everyone is informed and understands the progression of dementia.  

The conference has CPD accreditation: 10 level 1 General and 2 level 2 ethics points.

Person-centred care

It is the first time in South Africa that a conference will be held dealing with the concept and practice of person-centred care.  

The best-selling author on dementia care and director of the Association for Dementia Studies, Institute of Health and Society at the University of Worcester in the United Kingdom, Prof Dawn Brooker, will discuss the importance of person-centred care for people living with dementia, using activity and occupation as a way to unlocking potential.  The shift from disease to person and providing person-centred care are two of the topics that will be covered by Prof Brooker.

Another leading UK expert and best-selling author, Danuta Lipinska, will tackle issues around counselling, grief and strategies for coping as carers.  She will focus on helping carers respond appropriately to relatives going through the grieving process, self-care for the carer and will also discuss a rare form of dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).  Responding to grief and loss in the workplace is something we take for granted – Danuta will provide insight into this often overlooked topic.

Caroline Baker is the Dementia Services director at Four Seasons Health Care, a large residential healthcare provider in the United Kingdom.  She brings extensive practical experience in dementia care, putting the VIPS model of person-centred care into practice.  Topics such as pain assessment and management, The PEARL Project, helping people live well with dementia and life story work are some of the topics Caroline will present.

Local experts

Local experts in the elderly field will discuss curatorships, medico legal and ethical aspects, the latest research and treatment of dementia, the safeguarding of older and vulnerable adults and time maximisation.

Cost of the conference for two days is R1300 for Dementia SA members and R1500 for non-members.

For more information, visit the DEMENTIA SA website: www.dementiasa.orgor call Dementia SA National Helpline 0860 MEMORY / 0860 636 679.

(Press Release, Dementia SA, October 2011)