Empowering change: Leadership in dementia care workshops

Are you passionate about transforming dementia care? Do you want to lead the way in creating more compassionate, person-centred support for those living with dementia? 

From March 18-20 in Auckland, New Zealand, and March 25-27 in Canberra, Eden in Oz presents its Leadership in Dementia Care workshops, facilitated by international experts Dr Allen Power and Jessica Luh Kim.

Guiding dementia care beyond drugs 

This series of workshops will bring together aged care professionals, leaders, and advocates dedicated to reshaping dementia care. Designed to challenge traditional models and inspire innovative thinking, these workshops will provide practical strategies to enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia.

Dr Power is a geriatrician and internationally recognised author and educator in dementia care. He is also the Schlegel Chair in Ageing and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel—U. Waterloo Research Institute for Ageing in Canada. 

He authored the influential book Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care in 2010, which takes on conventional dementia treatment methods and advocates for a shift toward a person-centred, non-pharmacological approach. He emphasises creating environments that support well-being for people living with dementia, focusing on autonomy, meaningful engagement, and social connection.

“As a geriatrician working in long-term care since 1991, I was never happy with the use of antipsychotics being used with people with dementia. To me, people never seemed to be better on drugs,” Dr Power told Hello Leaders.

“At times, we would do something that helped solve somebody’s distress, and it didn’t involve a pill. It made me wonder how many more people we could also find solutions for without relying on medication.”

It’s been over a decade since Dr Power visited Australia, with his last trip taking place before he published his second book Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being in 2014.

Now he’s working on a third book, co-authored with Dr Jennifer Carson and Pat Sprigg, which makes the case and explains the process for unlocking and desegregating dementia-specific living areas.

Intertwined with all three books is The Eden Alternative, a model of well-being that incorporates seven Domains of Well-being: identity, connectedness, security, autonomy, meaning, growth and joy. 

“All human beings regardless of age, background, nationality, faith, tradition, or gender need those seven things to live optimally. A dementia diagnosis doesn’t change that,” Dr Power said.

“The root cause of distress is an erosion of the different Domains of Well-being. I liken it to turning the heat down on a kettle. People without well-being are at boiling point and it doesn’t take much for an explosion to occur. 

“I’ve taught around the world and when we explore real-life situations we often see that systems do nothing for these seven lifegiving areas of human need. So why are we surprised this person hasn’t gotten better yet?”

Ms Luh Kim, a Canadian consultant and educator specialising in ageing, dementia care, and organisational culture change, said the seven Domains align perfectly with what people living with dementia want. 

“Putting people into boxes and focusing on specific medical outcomes isn’t aligned with what we truly need to thrive. We often ask questions that aren’t about well-being so we’re not getting to the essence of what people want to live well. Well-being is something everyone desires,” she added. 

An essential event for dementia care leaders

Ms Luh Kim – who was also a key author for the award winning LIVING the Dementia Journey – said both formal and informal leaders need to be brave enough to influence change in their organisations and communities. 

“It’s so important to have the right leaders who believe in what we believe, who want to do better. Staying stagnant is not good enough and if leaders are not brave and courageous enough we’ll just fall back into what’s comfortable,” Ms Luh Kim said. 

“Passion is contagious. When you bring people along who are also energised about changing the culture of care everyone feeds off of each other.”

Industry leaders will have an unrivalled opportunity to find out more about Dr Power’s work, including how to implement a well-being framework and minimise medication, during the two-day Dementia Beyond Drugs workshop in Auckland and Canberra.

Meanwhile, the one-day Creating Inclusive Communities in Dementia Care symposium is a practical learning opportunity for leaders to explore how to plan for, create and implement an inclusive community with no resident segregation.

Eden in Oz & NZ Executive Director Sally Hopkins said this will be one of her event highlights. 

“In both countries we’re going to have an expert panel of people in various leadership roles and one person in each panel who lives with dementia,” she told Hello Leaders. 

“We’ll be talking about creating inclusive communities – and I don’t just mean dementia-friendly, I mean inclusive communities. Inclusion means everybody regardless of health status. Achieving this means changing our language and thinking. 

“During the afternoon workshop we will take on a very real problem: unlocking the doors of a memory support household, and enabling people living with dementia to mingle with others and to create a normal environment rather than an abnormal one. I’m looking forward to working with participants on how we can make that happen.”

Auckland’s panel features Jill Woodward, former CEO of Waipuna Hospice and more recently Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital, Orquidea Tamayo Mortera, President for the New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapists and Nicole Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Community Home Australia. 

Ms Smith and Ms Woodward will also be on Canberra’s panel, alongside Marie Alford, Head of Dementia Support Australia and Gwenda Darling, a member of the Aged Care Council of Elders and passionate dementia advocate with lived experience. 

The Canberra event features an exclusive evening screening of the award winning documentary Human Forever by 24 year-old nurse Teun Toebes & filmmaker Jonathan de Jong plus a virtual Q&A with the Netherlands-based duo. 

Be part of the future of dementia care

Eden in Oz & NZ has long been at the forefront of changing aged care culture, and these workshops will empower leaders to take dementia care to the next level. By attending, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and inspiration needed to create a more enriching and dignified experience for those living with dementia.

For more information, visit Eden in Oz & NZ’s official website. You can also book tickets for Auckland and Canberra today.