Page 1 of 5

Across the Borders Newsletter

A newsletter for service providers and carer’s of people with dementia living in the Northern Territory, the Kimberley and the Pilbara

24 hour help line: 1800699799 April 2014

Activity

Cushions

donated

Thanks to

Grace Darling for constructing weaving cushions for clients of NT

DBMAS in Alice Springs and Darwin.

If you would like the pattern to construct these cushions please

contact your local DBMAS office.

Reference: www.dbmas.org.au

The weaving cushion has coloured fabric strips that can be woven

into patterns.

It can be used to help manage the following behaviours:

Agitation – weaving cushion can be used as a calming tool

to soothe the person, it provides deep pressure when held, and

coloured fabric strips stimulate the senses and occupy the hands.

Anxious and calling out

behaviours – weaving cushion can be

used as a distractional tool to focus

the person onto an activity in which

they enjoy and are familiar with, but

may not be able to manage traditional

weaving techniques anymore.

Whats on 2014: NT DBMAS Psychogeriatrician

NT Visits: Professor

Morris

May 26th

- 30th

August 18th - 22

nd

November 3rd

-7th

WA DBMAS Planned Trips

June 23rd

-27th

Joint with NT DBMAS

across Kimberley

region

In this Issue

Activity cushion donation Remote visits NT & WA Education opportunities in Darwin New resource ‘keeping the PEACE’

www.dbmas.org.au

Page 2 of 5

Outreach visits with NT DBMAS 2014

Thanks to all those communities who have hosted us as we provide education,

assessment and strategies for behaviour management in dementia care. We have been

visiting the home of the person living with dementia, day respite centres and aged

care programs. Thanks to those who partner with us with these outreach trips:

Alzheimer’s Aust NT, Cognitive nurses, Health Clinics, Shires/councils, Geriatrician

and visiting Psychogeriatrician.

Ngukurr: Feb

Professor Morris at RDH linked to Katherine-using video technology

Feb

Docker River: Mar

Mutijulu Aged Care : April

Page 3 of 5

WA DBMAS

In early February, DBMAS (WA) Consultant, Genevieve Major, partnered with Kimberley Aged and

Community Services in a visit to the West and Central Kimberley remote communities. The aim of

the trip was to provide education and advice to family carers, HACC centers and staff. This was

aimed at enabling them in their caring for people with dementia who are experiencing some of the

behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

We visited communities, including Bidyindanga, Mowanjum and Looma. HACC staff from some

more outlying communities were also able to travel to some of the education sessions. The benefits

of these trips include, being able to see people in their own homes, where they are comfortable. It

also helps to build up a relationship with DBMAS and the HACC service providers who are working

with the people day to day.

This was the second trip of a new partnership between DBMAS (WA) and KACS and planning is

underway for a third trip for the middle of the year to visit the Central and East Kimberley Region.

The trips have been absolutely invaluable to DBMAS in beginning to gain an understanding of how

best to work with clients from remote areas of WA. KACS staff have been instrumental in educating

and building the skills and knowledge of the DBMAS service in regard to working with remote

clients.

Derby Sky

Page 4 of 5

Limited Spaces: Darwin 1st May 2014 9-4.30pm

ONE DAY Spaced Retrieval Workshop

With Anne Kelly from Montessori for Dementia Australia

Spaced Retrieval is a technique used to teach people living with

dementia to recall information over progressively longer intervals of

time; minutes, hours, days, weeks, months. This means that people

living with dementia can learn to retain certain information, skills or

habits if they are given the opportunity to practice doing them often.

The Spaced Retrieval technique works because it capitalizes on the

strengths/abilities of a person living with dementia. Research has

found that the Procedural memory System which is also known as

Implicit Memory, is relatively spared through the course of dementia.

Procedural Memory which is therefore considered a strength in people

living with dementia is the basis for why Spaced retrieval works. This

is an exciting workshop which provides opportunity for participants to

practice the skills of using Spaced Retrieval and gain knowledge of

how this technique can be used to support independence and safely for

people living with dementia both in the community or a residential

facility.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the one day program participants will be able to:

1. Define the Spaced Retrieval technique

2. Describe the uses of the Spaced Retrieval training technique, its

development and rationale

3. Identify types of memory and spared capacity in dementia

4. Demonstrate a Spaced Retrieval session, recording procedures and

strategies for maintenance of gains

Contact 1800699799 or darwin.dbmas@frontierservices.org for

registration and further information

Upcoming events

Health professionals

role in advance

directives for people

with dementia - DTSC

28th May - Darwin

9.30-4.30

www.dtsc.com.au/nt-

advance-directives for

more information

*************************

Case management

(national

certification)

competency training

23rd July

9.30-4pm Darwin

Airport Resort

www.cmsa.org.au for

more information

Page 5 of 5

New Resource from NT DBMAS

DBMAS - Keeping the Peace

Peace is not just a state of mind. Peace is something ‘people living with dementia’ and their carers

strive for. NT DBMAS has developed an innovative training tool around the acronym PEACE to

assist carers identify the triggers in dementia that can lead to changed and unwanted behaviours.

This training tool PEACE (Physical, Emotional, Activity, Communication and Environment) is

available in brochure and poster format as well.

The aim of PEACE is to better prepare carers in identifying triggers that lead to behavioural and

psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and to develop proactive strategies to reduce carer

burden and increase quality of life for person living with dementia.

4 minute animated video clip available on you tube to view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPgXgDpFAi0

If wanting further information about this resource please contact NT DBMAS

1800699799 (NT) or 0889825202 and feedback welcome.