Walker M (2024) Reaching people with advanced dementia: A therapist in residence. Journal of Dementia Care 32(3) 23-25 Mary Walker describes her work as a therapist in residence at a care home, where she works with people in the later experiences of dementia, giving focused attention based on a body-to-body connection rather than words. This...
Elkins Z, Trinder D (2024) SPECAL: a blueprint for sensitive communication. Journal of Dementia Care 32(1) 26-29. Zoe Elkins and Di Trinder describe an independent evaluation of a change in approach for a day centre service. The study found that a small investment in SPECAL Practitioner training led to significantly greater contentment and raised self-esteem...
Armour J (2023) Love Through Double Glazing. Journal of Dementia Care 31(6)17-18. Innovative work by Vamos in the pandemic and beyond Vamos is a full mask theatre company known for its performances and workshops exploring and supporting people living with dementia. Janie Armour highlights the innovative work it has done recently, particularly during the Covid...
Leach-Murphy L, Patel J (2023) Effective ways to engage with people living with dementia. Journal of Dementia Care 31(4) 12-13. A dementia diagnosis is not evidence of an inability to communicate and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act should always be respected. Liz Leach-Murphy and Jayna Patel discuss effective ways to engage with people...
Douglas P (2023) Talking Mats – The power of simply being heard. Journal of Dementia Care 31(4) 14-15. Talking Mats can support conversations on a wide variety of topics. Paula Douglas explains how this tool helps people with communication difficulties express their views and have more control. Talking Mats is a social enterprise with a...
Dawson J-A, Madden G, Crystal L (2023 Video Consultations: Do they work in specialist dementia nursing? Journal of Dementia Care 31(3) 27-30. How effective are video consultations as a way to support families living with dementia? Jo-Ann Dawson, Gayle Madden and Lucy Crystal found it to be a valuable tool for specialist nurses, as their...
Smith E (2022) Why Dementia Makes Communication Difficult: A Conversation with Alison Wray. Journal of Dementia Care 30(5) 12-13. Dementia can make communication challenging, so getting it right is important. Alison Wray talks to Emma Smith about how to achieve better outcomes by communicating well. Professor Alison Wray is a leading academic in communication and...
O’Hara M (2022) How one remarkable woman made a difference. Journal of Dementia Care 30(5) 14-15. Sister Mary Threadgold, a speech and language therapist, devised “Sonas” as a communication programme for people with dementia. Michelle O’Hara explains the programme and ambitious plans to extend it more widely. Mary Threadgold was...
Are humour and play a valid part of dementia care or is it too serious to be joked about? John Killick, in the first of a series of articles considering what has changed in dementia care over the past 30 years, describes how he revised his views on the value of laughter in the course of care. In this journal in...
Artists from the charity Living Words work with care home residents to write down their sounds and words. When the pandemic struck, as Susanna Howard and Reinhard Guss recall, the charity had to invent a new approach to engaging creatively with residents. Since the closure of long stay wards for patients with dementia in large mental health...