Speak Out April 2016

In Focus - Aged care

Aged Care Working Party

In 2015 an Aged Care Working Party was established to bring together a panel of experienced speech pathologists with clinical and research interests and expertise in the ageing and aged care space. The working party will play an instrumental role in informing the profession’s strategic response to future aged care reforms. meet The members of the working party.

Michelle Bennett I had been working in aged care as a clinician for around 10 years and from that experience went on to complete my PhD through the University of Queensland investigating communication and meal-time management in residential aged care settings. Since my PhD, I have taught several ageing specific units and modules at University level. My current research is aged care and ageing focused. I hope that the aged care working party can provide direction for clinicians, aged care service providers, and policy makers in working with older people with communication and/or mealtime difficulties. Ultimately, I would like to see recognition of communication as an 'Activity of Daily Living'. To speech pathologists and students interested in aged care – it is a slow and often arduous road to take, but the rewards and thanks you receive are uniquely genuine. You will need to have solid all round skills in speech pathology practice, patience, respect, flexibility, creativity, and humility. Gail Rogers I have worked with older clients in the private aged care field in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. I currently work in beautiful Far North Queensland in my own private practice. I joined the aged care working party because I am passionate about working with like-minded people to raise awareness of our value in aged care and to have a positive influence into current aged care reform. I would love to see mandatory dysphagia training established for all carers, volunteers, nurses, and lifestyle staff whilst they are studying their aged care courses. Showing hope and compassion, while interacting with the clients and seeing faces light up with a smile on their faces – this is my daily reward for working in aged care. Amanda Dansky I began working in the aged care sector as a new graduate in 2001 and have continued to do so until present. I currently work on the Gold Coast in my own private practice, servicing 20 aged care facilities. I am very passionate about aged care and feel strongly that this sector is currently not receiving the attention and amount of funding required to have the basic communication and swallowing needs of residents met. I hope that the aged care working party can help increase recognition of the speech pathology role in aged care and to improve access to services. If I had a magic wand I would change the ACFI tool so that it recognised communication as a basic human right with the appropriate allocation of funding. I love working in aged care–each individual comes with a lifetime of experiences and memories that shape your whole perspective on life.

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Speak Out April 2016

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au