Action Plan

Freelance Campaigner, Consultant, Writer and Blogger specialising in issues affecting older people, health and social care and specifically dementia. I provide consultancy services, predominately to organisations working in the social care sector, which includes advice, training and mentoring in dementia care and support. Alongside this, I am the author of D4Dementia, and I write for a wide variety of other publications both online and in print. I also undertake public speaking engagements at conferences and events, and work with broadcast and print media. My work has been described as "Terrific," "Amazing. REAL story of dementia," "Insightful, heartfelt and truthful," "Moving and inspiring."

Commitment 1 - Relating to:

To train/mentor social care staff to support people with dementia in aspects such as promoting choice and control, risk-taking, human rights, independence, seeing the person not the task, and maximising a person's ability to live well, or live as well as possible, with their dementia.

 

How will your organisation achieve Commitment 1?

 

By continuing to work with existing social care clients, and new clients in the future, to embed knowledge and skills into their workforce to enable an approach that fully supports this statement.

  • We have the right to be recognised as who we are, to make choices about our lives including taking risks, and to contribute to society. Our diagnosis should not define us, nor should we be ashamed of it.

Commitment 2 - Relating to:

To support families, keeping in mind the principles of the NDAA 'Carers' Call to Action', by sharing my own experiences of caring for my father, and what I continue to learn from families supporting a loved one with dementia today.

 

How will your organisation achieve Commitment 2?

 

By continuing to write, blog and use social media, sharing my personal experiences whenever possible, to reach as many families in need of information and/or signposting as possible.

  • We have the right to continue with day to day and family life, without discrimination or unfair cost, to be accepted and included in our communities and not live in isolation or loneliness.

Commitment 3 - Relating to:

To work with organisations supporting people from Seldom Heard Groups, particularly people with learning disabilities, to improve their experiences in line with this statement, and with the NDAA 'From Seldom Heard to Seen and Heard' campaign in mind.

 

How will your organisation achieve Commitment 3?

 

By continuing my work of 4+ years with people who have a learning disability and dementia, and supporting the NDAA in their 'From Seldom Heard to Seen and Heard' campaign.

  • We have the right to an early and accurate diagnosis, and to receive evidence based, appropriate, compassionate and properly funded care and treatment, from trained people who understand us and how dementia affects us. This must meet our needs, wherever we live.

Commitment 4 - Relating to:

To champion the NDAA's 'Dementia Words Matter' campaign in all aspects of my work to ensure that the language used around dementia is respectful to people who are living with dementia.

 

How will your organisation achieve Commitment 4?

 

By continuing to share the importance of dementia language, and the NDAA/DEEP/Dementia Australia best practice guidelines, in my training and mentoring of social care staff, in my work with the media, when I'm fulfilling public speaking engagements, and when I'm writing, blogging or using social media.

  • We have the right to be respected, and recognised as partners in care, provided with education, support, services, and training which enables us to plan and make decisions about the future.