IN TOUCH THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF ALZHEIMER’S AUSTRALIA NSW AUTUMN 2014. ISSUE 88 A NIGHT WITH PARKY $110,000 RAISED FOR THE ALZNSW MEMORY VAN ANIMATION SERIES REGIONAL WRAP-UP NEW DEMENTIA ALZNSW LOCATIONS AWARENESS RESOURCE AND CONTACTS SERVICES ; EDUCATION; FUNDRAISING ;NEWS + IN TOUCH AUTUMN 2014 1 IN TOUCH CONTENTS The quarterly newsletter for members of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW 3 CHAIR’S AND CEO’S MESSAGES CEO The Hon. John Watkins 4 NEWS General Manager Services Robyn Faine ; NEW COMMUNITY AWARENESS RESOURCE PORT MACQUARIE IS BECOMING DEMENTIA FRIENDLY General Manager Policy, Research ; and Information ; BIENNALE OF SYDNEY Brendan Moore ; NSW CARERS AWARDS 2013 NEW QUALITY FRAMEWORK General Manager Human Resources ; and Volunteering ; JOURNAL RECOGNITION Anneliese Coghlan ; CAFÉ CONNECT General Manager Marketing and Communications 8 COVER STORY Andrew Mills SYDNEY GALA DINNER WITH SIR MICHAEL General Manager Media PARKINSON & ITA BUTTROSE Sarah Price General Manager Fundraising 10 REGIONAL WRAP-UP Simon Crowson A-;NSW LOCATIONS AND CONTACTS General Manager Corporate Services Chris Champ 11 EDUCATION Honorary Medical Advisors 2014 COURSES Professor Henry Brodaty AO Co-Director, Centre for Healthy Brain 12 RESEARCH Ageing, UNSW Director, Dementia Collaborative ; CAFFEINE AND MEMORY PERFORMANCE Research Centre ; ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE LINKED TO ANAEMIA Dr Helen Creasey ; VITAMIN E SLOWS FUNCTIONAL DECLINE Senior Staff Specialist, Geriatric ; Q&A Medicine, Deputy Director of CERA Assoc Prof Michael Valenzuela 13 SERVICES Group Leader Brain & Mind Institute 14 FUNDRAISING University of Sydney HOW YOU CAN HELP ALZNSW Dr Bryce Vissel Senior Research Fellow, Group Leader, 15 IN MEMORIAM Neurodegenerative Disorders Garvan Institute of Medical Research 16 RESOURCES Editors Andrew Mills and Sarah Price ; IN THE LIBRARY T: (02) 9805 0100 ; CROSSWORD E: [email protected] [email protected] Alzheimer’s Australia NSW PO Box 6042 North Ryde NSW 2113 Australia T: (02) 9805 0100 F: (02) 9805 1665 E: [email protected] W:Ò WWWµÒGHTDEMENTIAORGAU Registered as a Print Post Publication Number PP: 100008217 ISSN: 1038-7854 Articles in this publication provide a general summary only of the subject matter covered. Any person with dementia or a carer for a person with dementia should SEEKÒPROFESSIONALÒADVICEÒABOUTÒTHEIRÒSPECIµÒCÒCASEÒ AlzNSW is not liable for any error or omission in this publication. Permission should be sought from the editor before reproducing articles. Once permission is given the source must be acknowledged. Products and services contained in paid advertisements or otherwise featured in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by AlzNSW. AlzNSW does not endorse any products or services of any description. The views expressed by contributors to this newsletter are not necessarily shared by AlzNSW. Published on behalf of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW by Mahlab Media www.mahlabmedia.com.au CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT Welcome to what is set to be another busy and exciting year ahead. We were so fortunate to have Sir Michael Parkinson join us for a special fundraising gala in Sydney in February. It was an entertaining evening and a highlight CHAIR’S MESSAGE on the calendar. We were also privileged to have Alzheimer’s Australia National President and 2013 HOPE SPRINGS Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose and AlzNSW Ambassador and television presenter Natarsha Belling join us for the evening. We are lucky I am pleased to report to you that we have to have such wonderful Ambassadors, and their had a very busy start to 2014 and we’ve already generous support. We are very appreciative seen a lot of media attention around research of their efforts. advances in dementia. Whilst these reports Recently, the Australian Journal of Dementia are positive signs, we remain grounded in the Care featured an article on the Every Bloke knowledge that there is, as yet, no cure. Major Needs A Shed program in the Hunter (see page advances over the past few years have led 7). The program is just another example of how to a greater understanding of the illness and, effective engagement with and meaningful although it’s too soon to say whether or not we activities for people living with a diagnosis of can prevent it, studies show that its progress dementia can make such a difference to quality can be slowed down. of life. The article in a journal of this calibre also The Board and staff at AlzNSW are working very hard to improve shows that AlzNSW is leading the charge when the lives of everyone affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other it comes to dementia care, advice, support and forms of dementia in our community. education, and we will continue to do so. One of our top goals for 2014 is to have our quality services In other exciting news, the Port Macquarie- delivered to more people in more locations across the state. Hastings area is setting up to become one Mid last year, the organisation recruited ten new staff (Key OFÒTHEÒµRSTÒDEMENTIA FRIENDLYÒCOMMUNITIESÒ Workers) focussed on delivering services to people with Younger in Australia. A steering committee has been Onset Dementia, and their carers. This year, we anticipate that these established to progress that from concept to roles will have very full workloads as awareness grows about the reality and develop a guide for others to follow. addition to our services. The Key Workers also work closely with AlzNSW is involved with the project, which has other community service organisations in helping to improve health been led by good friend to the organisation, the pathways and connections to people in need. Member for Port Macquarie and Parliamentary This year we will be expanding our services in the far south coast Friend of Dementia co-convenor Leslie Williams and in western NSW at Dubbo. Clearly, our growth is essential to MP. You can read more about this remarkable those living with dementia and their carers. We are committed to project on page 5. continuing that growth across NSW. Just before the Christmas break, we received On the political front, we continue to be closely engaged with NOTIµCATIONÒTHATÒWEÒHADÒAGAINÒACHIEVEDÒ government bodies to achieve greater funding for dementia research accreditation following our regular external and support for expanded service coverage. Our central requests to review. This process assesses our systems Australian Government include the establishment of a national ‘Key and practices against 19 standards and aims Worker’ program to better serve the needs of the rapidly expanding to ensure we are continually reviewing and dementia population, increased dementia research funding, and GP improving the way we operate. The reviewers awareness programs which include appropriate education and training. SPENTÒSEVERALÒDAYSÒVISITINGÒOURÒOFµCESÒANDÒ The Board of Directors and I look forward to the year ahead with talking to many staff, consumers, volunteers, vigour and determination. board members and partner organisations. We were pleased to be informed that we’d achieved Jerry Ellis AO, Chair, AlzNSW ANÒf%XCEEDEDgÒRATINGÒFORÒµVEÒOFÒTHEÒSTANDARDSÒkÒ an outstanding and rare achievement. We are also preparing for another fantastic year of Memory Walks & Jogs. These are great events that bring many communities together ONE OF OUR TOP GOALS in support of people living with dementia, their FOR 2014 IS TO HAVE carers, family and friends. We hope that you OUR QUALITY SERVICES can join us for Memory Walk & Jog this year. DELIVERED TO MORE PEOPLE IN MORE LOCATIONS The Hon. John Watkins, CEO, AlzNSW ACROSS THE STATE. IN TOUCH AUTUMN 2014 3 NEWS GUEST SPEAKERS RACHAEL LITHERLAND AlzNSW welcomes UK dementia consultant Rachael Litherland INÒ!PRILÒ2ACHAELÒWILLÒBEÒOURÒµÒRSTÒ international guest speaker for 2014. She provides advice and training to organisations on how to increase their involvement with people living with dementia. Rachael has a background in psychology and advocacy, and has worked with people with dementia for the past 12 years. NEW COMMUNITY She developed and managed the national ‘Living with Dementia’ program for the Alzheimer’s Society AWARENESS RESOURCE FROMÒk Rachael will facilitate an The AlzNSW animated series, My Grandmum, My Papu, My Grandpa interactive workshop on dementia- and Me, tells the experience of Ezekiel, aged six, Bibi, nine and Julia, friendly communities for people with dementia, carers, service 11, who each have a grandparent living with dementia. providers, businesses and local The CEO of AlzNSW, The Hon. John Watkins, said the aim of the government representatives. series is to start a conversation among families living with dementia, She will be in Sydney on 3 April to help children better understand what changes may be happening and Port Macquarie on 4 April. to their grandparent. BRIAN DRAPER “This age group, while not the primary carers of a person with Conjoint Professor at the School of dementia, are still affected by the condition and it’s important to give Psychiatry at UNSW Dr Brian Draper them a voice,” John said. will be holding a symposium on Dementia Care in Hospitals on 29 “We hope these animations will encourage families to talk more April, as part of his national lecture about dementia, about how the condition may be affecting their tour for Alzheimer’s Australia. grandparent and how they relate to their grandchild.” Dr Draper has been the AlzNSW worked with digital production house Why Documentaries Assistant Director of the Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry to make the series, which was animated by Nick Davlouros. at Prince of Wales and Prince My Grandmum, My Papu, My Grandpa and Me is available Henry hospitals since 1992. He has at Alzheimer’s Australia’s new online resource hub at: PUBLISHEDÒOVERÒÒSCIENTIµÒCÒPAPERSÒ W: www.dementiadaily.org.au and book chapters, and provided consultations on psychogeriatric services in Australia and overseas. 4OÒµÒNDÒOUTÒMOREÒORÒATTENDÒ either lecture, please contact: T: (02) 8875 4600 E: NSW.Reception@ alzheimers.org.au ON THE ROAD … FORBES Follow the BULLI CANOWINDRA AlzNSW Memory MOLONG Van as it travels WOLLONGONG COONABARABRAN around the state, CHATSWOOD raising dementia- PARKES MERRYLANDS GUNNING awareness.