Blogs

Many caregivers worry when toward the end stages of dementia a family member has problems eating and drinking.
Feeding a loved one a meal is a task most caregivers enjoy. But at some point toward the end stages of dementia a person will have difficulty chewing and swallowing. This can be distressing for family members, especially when feeding a loved one is the only way they feel they can contribute to a loved one's care.

Aged care provider HammondCare have just announced that they have received a Federal grant to help fund training programs for undergraduate doctors, nurses and other health workers at a variety of their aged care settings.

Considering most patients in our hospitals are old and frail and in the future many more will have some form of memory loss, you'd think that education would have moved into aged care long ago.

Sophie Pieters-Hawke and friends have all seen how dementia not only affects the person with dementia but the whole family. They have got together to help raise awareness about dementia and much needed funds for dementia research.

The Campaign for Care of Older Australians (CCOA) have just started a new campaign called "The Grand Plan". The campaign hopes to raise awareness for better care for older Australians and to send a message to the government calling for increased funding and choice in aged care.

The idea is you send a postcard to someone you think is grand in your life and that gets sent to your local MP.

It's a great campaign to be involved in, check it out here www.thegrandplan.com.au

Many older people admitted to hospital experience delirium. Delirium is characterised by a sudden onset of confusion, delusions, sleep disturbance and hallucinations. It has many causes but is often triggered by infection, medications or surgery. Left untreated delirium can have serious medical consequences.

If you are caring for a parent who has just lost a spouse it can be difficult to know what to say or do. At such a traumatic time many adult children find themselves having to organise finances or deal with practical matters such as funeral arrangements.

You may even find yourself caring for the remaining parent as their health deteriorates. This can make many adult children feel like their grief has to take a back seat. And in some cases it does.