Allied Health professionals lead the way in enhancing skills to support people living with dementia
ACH Group has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening aged care quality standards by partnering with Dementia Training Australia (DTA) to deliver specialist dementia training for its workforce. Through this partnership, the organisation recently hosted a series of workshops led by Isabelle Meyer, Executive Director of DTA, focused on the theme ‘Navigating Changed Behaviour’.
The workshops explored key areas including the prevalence of changed behaviour in dementia, psychological symptoms, evidence-based approaches to care, and practical case studies designed to de-escalate acute distress.
A strong emphasis was placed on person-centred support, ensuring people living with dementia are cared for in a way that respects their individuality and changing needs.
A total of 77 ACH Group staff, primarily from Allied Health, along with nursing professionals across community and residential care, participated in the four training sessions.
Staff members who attended praised both the quality and impact of the training:
- “The strategies provided were very helpful.”
- “The approaches were very practical.”
- “The information was interesting and has increased my understanding of dementia.”
- “Isabelle was a great presenter and delivered the training at a great pace.”
- “The case studies were very helpful.”
The importance of training
Barbara Tainsh, Head of Health at ACH Group, underscored the importance of ongoing professional development in dementia care:
“Training ensures care is customer centred, respectful, and adapted to the individual’s changing needs. It helps professionals learn and develop alternative communication strategies.”
She also highlighted the significance of early recognition:
”With training, health professionals can be better prepared to identify subtle changes in a person’s memory, behaviour, communication and daily activities.”
Beyond clinical skills, Barbara stressed the role of education in supporting families:
“Training helps staff to better guide and support family members through education, emotional support, and involvement in care planning. This can help to reduce carer stress and improve outcomes for the person living with dementia.”
Looking ahead
ACH Group is committed to building on this momentum and will be providing this training to other staff within ACH Group, with the Community Nursing team being the next to be involved.
Pictured: Health Professionals Luke Maloney and Gabrielle Ganser providing feedback on the training