A UK academic who has spent almost 40 years working to make life better for people living with dementia is set to embark on a masterclass tour of Australia.
Internationally-renowned dementia expert Professor Dawn Brooker from the University of Worcester will travel around the country from March 25 to April 1 following her keynote presentation at Dementia Australia's National Symposium.
Professor Brooker is director of the Association for Dementia Studies UK at the university which she established in 2009. Her aim is to transform the lives of people with dementia, and their families and carers, through her research and that of her team.
As a child, she was very close to her grandfather who had dementia and it was her family's reaction to his death that spurred her on to devote her career to helping those with dementia.
"When he died suddenly all my aunties said that it was 'a blessing, him being how he was'. I was furious. They obviously didn't know how nice our life was," she told the UK's Worcester News.
"That sense of fury at the dismissal of someone's life simply because they have dementia has fired my work as a clinical psychologist and as a researcher ever since."
Dementia Australia will be hosting Professor Brooker for the tour. A recipient of the UK's National Dementia Care Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, said she is looking forward to bringing her masterclass on person-centered care to Australia.
"Providing excellent dementia care is a challenge around the world," Prof Brooker said.
"By taking a systematic approach using evidence about what works we can transform people's lives."
Dementia Australia's Centre for Dementia Learning Director Dr David Sykes said the masterclasses are unmissable for management and healthcare professionals responsible for the implementation of the new Aged Care Quality Standards.
"Professor Brooker has spent the past 40 years working to transform the lives of people living with dementia and her research focus has been dedicated to inspiring the concept of positive dementia care," Dr Sykes said.
The masterclass is an interactive half-day session where participants will work through a range of exercises.
Prof Brooker's tour will begin in Sydney on March 25 following the Dementia Australia National Symposium on March 24 and then go on to Brisbane (March 26), Melbourne (March 30), Adelaide (March 31) and Perth (April 1).
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Dementia Australia is the national peak body and charity for people, of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers.
It provides advocacy, support services, education and information. An estimated 447,000 people have dementia in Australia. This number is projected to reach almost 1.1 million by 2058.
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Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
