Speaking My Language
By Agnieszka Chudecka
On 26 February 2015 at MAC we delivered again the very popular workshop called SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE which is presented by Multicultural Aged Care and the SA & NT Dementia Training Study Centre, and aims to encourage best practice in the care of people living with dementia from CALD backgrounds.
This workshop provides the skills and background necessary for the interpretation and best response to changing behaviours in people living with dementia from CALD backgrounds.
Speaking My Language is a workshop developed by WA Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS), is addressed to health professionals working with people living with dementia. Including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, occupational and diversional therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists and tertiary level students.
Both the presentation and the training material have been reviewed and updated at the end of 2014, and this was the second presentation of the revamped version.
We call the day a great success!
The general comment we received was “Both presenters were excellent and engaging”. Thank you very much, Dear Participants, from Wendy and Agnieszka!
When we asked the 36 participants to share with us three most useful things that they have learned from this event, the answers included:
- Communication plays a huge role when providing care – communication techniques with people with dementia
- Being mindful about different cultural backgrounds can help enhance the quality of care provision
- Importance of allowing time for the dementia person to understand and respond
- Importance of being interested and getting to know a person’s ‘life story’ and cultural background
- Discussing the different types of dementia and getting to the core of what they are and how CALD factors effect it
- Importance of being aware of how you come across to a person with dementia. Being aware of your body language and tone of voice
- How easily we stereotype groups of people
- Self awareness of own beliefs and values
- The importance of understanding where a resident’s fears/behaviours may come from
- Excellent resources available, how to access them, access for rural people
- Effect and impact of noise and stimuli within the facility on the person with dementia
- Take time to get to know the individual
- Cultural care is vital
- Understanding that pain might be seen as something that must be endured to gain good quality ‘after life’
- Triggers and cues – generally and CALD
- Development of care plan – need to anticipate cultural expectations / needs
I hope it sounds interesting enough for you to flick through your diary and SAVE THE DATE for the next edition: see you on 20th May at MAC.
For the registration, watch the space: http://dtsc.com.au/events/speaking-my-language/
