Edited by Fraser McLellend
Following this, in April 2008, he took the position as a Clinical Nurse Consultant – Dementia Support within the Blue Mountains/Nepean ACAT.
Roderick has a Master Degree in Nursing and Post Graduate Diploma in Community Nursing. In 2017, he also finished his Master of Arts in Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity. He has certificates in “Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice” (Cert IV), “Psychiatry of Old Age” and “Leadership and Management”. His professional achievements include presenting several nursing papers in conferences, writing clinical articles on Dementia, and obtaining the “Outstanding Performance Award” for excellence in clients’ and family outcomes by SWAHS – Primary Care and Community Health Services Network and the Hammond Care Chairman’s Award Certificate of Special Commendation. His main interests are in Education, Spirituality in Old Age and dealing with Behavioural Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).
Roderick is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association. He has been a member of the PGNA since its conception in 1995 and held the Treasurers position for the last 10 years before he was elected as the current President of the PGNA Australia (Inc), in the last AGM 2017.
His plans for his tenure are to consolidate the strategic plan of the PGNA 2017-2020. This includes strategies to promote the profile of the PGNA, broaden its membership to include aged care workers and for the Association to continue advocating for Older People who suffer from any cognitive impairment or Mental Health illness.
New Caption
Following much discussion (for what seems like the last 10 years!) and the Survey of Members in 2017, it was decided at the recent AGM to keep the name PGNA. The argument was that the name has historical significance, current cache and was easy to say and remember.
To address the concerns about the rather outdated term “Psycho-Geriatric” it was agreed, instead, to have a statement attached to the Logo,succinctly describing who we are.
It is a pleasure to announce the new caption:
The Association forNurses Working in Older People’s
Mental Health, Aged and Dementia Care
P.O. BOX 3038 St Marys South NSW 2760
It is envisaged that we will use this on letterheads etc. from now on and the Website and official documents will be changed accordingly.
Fall Prevention program for older Australians
Catholic Healthcare
Walking with Confidence – 8 week program for over 65s
14 February, 10am (every Wednesday for 8 weeks)
Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Harris Park
catholichealthcare.com.au/walkwithconfidence
Caring for Cognitive Impairment
Webinar No.7
Safer use of medicines for cognitive impairment
Tuesday 20 February 2018 2.30pm -3.30pm
Presenter: Ms Mary Etty-Leal, Deputy Director of Pharmacy (Royal Park Campus), Royal Melbourne Hospital
Presenter: Dr Ann Rudden, Associate Professor, Staff Specialist in General Medicine and Geriatrics, Gold Coast University Hospital
Presenter: Ms Anne Moehead, Nurse Practitioner Psychogeriatrics / Dementia, Nursing & Midwifery Directorate, Northern NSW Local Health District
Presenter: Ms Anne Cumming, Principal advisor, Cognitive Impairment, Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care
Any questions, please email
NOTICEBOARD
Congratulations to PGNA Member Posean Slatery who has been successful in her application for a $500 PGNA Scholarship. Roseane is using the Scholarship to pursue education in the “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Model”.
Once again; well done Rosie.
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship please check out the website for details.
In the News!
Squalor and Hoarding Resource
At Catholic Healthcare have developed a resource unit for people affected by hoarding and/or squalor. This resource is aimed at providing information around NSW for anyone in the community who would like access to not only information about hoarding but who can assist? Where to start? How do I talk about it with the person affected?
The resource unit includes:
Website- would recommend checking out our E-learning module-
Email-
Helpline- 1300 345 852
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Drink and drugs, time bomb for baby boomers
In both the UK and Australia, risky drinking is declining, except among people aged 50 years and older, new research has found. Researchers at Flinders University and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in England, published their findings intheBMJ,inAugust this year.Read more here.
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The night this Queensland man almost took his own life
Les Johnson says people thought he was a grumpy old bugger with mood swings, but really he was feeling isolated and at one point hours away from taking his own life. Read more here.
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Dementia and the impact of Stigma
September is Dementia Awareness Month and this year’s theme, You Are Not Alone, is aimed at encouraging people living with dementia and their carers to reach out to their communities for support. Read more here.
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Photos from the Successful PGNA Symposium held in Orange in November 2017
Participants enjoying the great view from the venue.
Geoff Smith (who gave the “acknowledgement of Lived Experience” presentation) with Symposium MC, Fraser Mclelland. Below, Michael Newman, gave the Welcome to Country in Widrajuri Language.
Some participants enjoying networking over lunch.
Participants enjoying the talk on Mood Disorders Clinic.
Below, some of the Orange organising committee; Freya Wilson, Mel Lane and Sophia Thibaudeau.
PSYCHOGERIATRIC NURSE’S ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER February 2018 1 | Page