ABSTRACT

Creating better lives for and with people living with dementia, where people living with dementia can flourish, demands creativity, imagination, bravery, and social change.

Failing to acknowledge the challenges we face in doing this will lead to a failure in our attempts to do so. We need to challenge and disrupt assumptions, attitudes, norms and practices, creating cultures that are “fairer, more equal, more kind” (Stodd, 2016, p7), where everyone can flourish. This requires a more responsible type of leadership; “Social Leadership”; characterised by humility, curiosity, a willingness to learn, and to fight bravely for what is right (Stodd, 2016).

bold is a creative, innovative Social Leadership project, delivered by Queen Margaret and Edinburgh Universities, funded by the Life Changes Trust. It brings together people living with dementia in different ways on an equal footing. It provides opportunities for people to develop their social leadership skills and flourish as leaders in dementia and make communities places where people living with dementia can flourish too.  

This presentation focuses on the significant impact that bold has made in the development of social leaders in dementia and the impact they have made in their own communities since the project launched in 2019.

PRESENTER BIO

Having spent many years leading music workshops for people living with dementia, Dr Frankie Greenwood has a strong interest in how connections between people with and without the ability to use words to communicate develop in creative ways. Her PhD research explored the experience of making meaningful connections with people with advanced dementia, and has brought deep insight into how relationships between people with and without dementia can flourish throughout the dementia journey. As a bold Project Facilitator, Dr Greenwood is committed to the ongoing development of fully inclusive communities, and creating spaces where people living with dementia can flourish.

Professor Brendan McCormack's work has always focused on person-centred practice, gerontological nursing, and practice development. This research has resulted in successful long-term collaborations in Ireland, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Slovenia and South Africa. He is particularly interested in the use of arts and creativity in healthcare research and development.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Aged Care in Australia is at an inflection point following the Aged Care Royal Commission. There are a multiplicity of terms used in our health and social care policy - Patient, Customer, Client, Consumer, Resident or Care Recipient. Clearly, from these terms we can see the potential misalignment between expectations of the stakeholders involved, Government, Provider, Family and Older Person. This is further compounded by language and a multiplicity of terms, which undergird various practice-models. These terms and their application to practice, this research paper will contend, have had ramifications for society and providers with regards to culture and practice.

This paper will report on the findings from a PhD study utilising a mixed-methods approach and a Bourdesian theoretical lens to reframe and understand this complex interplay of policy and practice language. It will provide interesting insights regarding how language and terms in use could contribute to ageism and quality failures from a sociological perspective, which detracts from the inherent dignity and the human rights of older people.

PRESENTER BIO

Linda Justin is a Non-Executive Director and Adviser to a number of organisations. Linda has held a variety of senior management roles in health and human services, in the NGO, public and private sectors. In these roles she has established, designed and delivered large transformational change programs to enhance service and practice delivery. “No longer be conformed but be transformed” is a phrase that has defined her career. 

ABSTRACT

Our panel will consider the significant challenges facing aged care across the globe in ensuring that we can meet the needs of our citizens with dementia both at home and in residential care. The post-Covid world is only one element of the significant challenges to find a skilled and available workforce as well as meeting their expectations on flexibility and wages. Our panel will debate these issues and consider not only the challenges, but the opportunities for organisations and countries to change our approach.

PRESENTER BIO

Pat Garcia is the CEO of Catholic Health Australia, the largest not-for-profit grouping of health and aged care services in Australia. He is a lawyer, policy expert and political strategist who has worked in all three levels of government including as the Director of Policy to the NSW Premier, as a Senior Adviser in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, and as Chair of a local government planning committee. Pat is an experienced board director whose experience spans the boards of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council, the Law Council of Australia, the Law Society of New South Wales, Shine for Kids, Surf Life Saving Sydney and Youth Action. He is a former Club Captain of Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and former Army Reserves Officer. Pat has degrees in Law, Finance & Marketing, Public Policy, International Law and Security.

Sarah McLelland has over 15 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service, working across aged care, disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. With workforce being the single biggest cost for providers delivering aged care services, Sarah is passionate about working with the sector to improve workforce opportunities. Sarah holds a master’s in Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development, business, and art degrees.

Paul Sadler has unique range of experience from more than 35 years in aged care and related fields. He is Interim CEO of Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), the national peak body representing providers of residential and home care services and retirement living. Paul has academic qualifications in social work, government and public administration and biblical studies. He is a Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology.