We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dementia Australia and Deb Sullivan, Senior Clinical Nurse Consultant, for her insightful presentation during our recent webinar, “Conversations That Count: Advance Care Planning and Dementia,” held as part of Dementia Action Week.
With over 40 participants registered, the session highlighted the importance of early and person-centred conversations around future care for individuals living with dementia.
Key Takeaways:
- Advance Care Directives vs Plans:
Deb clarified the legal and practical differences, emphasising that directives are created by individuals with decision-making capacity, while plans can be developed when capacity is lost with input from the people that know them best and are often their substitute decision maker. - Planning Strategies:
The webinar explored how to capture a person’s values and preferences meaningfully, even when they can’t actively participate. Deb shared practical tips and tools, including the use of storytelling and open-ended questions. Deb explained that it is possible to use advance care plans as guiding documents that can complement an advance care directive – rather than prescriptive tools, emphasising the importance of meeting individuals where they are in terms of their capacity and current health decisions. - Case Study:
Deb shared the experience of a man with advanced dementia, whose care preferences were documented through conversations with his daughter. This highlighted the importance of understanding personal history and values even when the person being cared for can no longer make decisions for themselves. - Nightingale Program Overview
The Nightingale program currently has seven clinical nurse consultants in New South Wales across various locations including Newcastle, Western Sydney, Port Macquarie, and Queanbeyan. The program provides face-to-face assessments when possible but also offers phone, virtual, and email support to ensure equitable access to services. - To find out more about the Nightingale Program, and how it is offering support across NSW please click here.
We are grateful to Dementia Australia for their continued leadership and compassionate approach to dementia care.
For those looking to learn more about advance care planning please click here.