to their carers.
innovative use of MP3 players in 2010 and
was so encouraged by early successes that
it partnered with Melbourne's La Trobe
University to undertake a formal research
project to explore the possible quality of
life benefits that using personalised MP3
content can provide not only those living with
dementia, but more importantly, their carers.
Fifty carers have participated in the project,
which will identify and measure benefits
gained when their relative or loved-one uses
the technology.
include restlessness, agitation and frequent
questioning. SCC (Vic) believes these can be
reduced by using music played on a portable
MP3 player to assist in promoting a sense of
calm and relaxation for the person living with
dementia. The portability of an MP3 player also
means they can continue to move and walk
around their environment and still enjoy the
music. This in turn may have a positive impact
on carers.
downloaded with favourite music or voice
recordings of the person living with dementia.
This is then given to them by their carer. The
project measured whether listening to these
recordings provided respite for the carer
and noted how this impacted on the carer's
perceived quality of life and if it offered relief
from their challenging role.
stress levels, mental health, self-care
opportunities and management of Behavioral
and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
recorded at regular intervals over a four-week
period will be reported.
The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for
Clinical Research
to the provision of person-centred care when
working with people with dementia (PWD).
The MESSAGE Communication Strategies in
Dementia training is designed to provide staff
with strategies to support communication
with PWD. Use of these strategies by in-home
care staff during care provides an opportunity
to maximise the communication potential of
PWD, and to improve quality of care.
the benefits of providing communication skills
training (MESSAGE) to community-based care
staff. Training involved the video presentation
of the MESSAGE strategies and discussion of
example conversations. Staff were assessed
on their knowledge of communication support
before and immediately after training, and
asked to rate the applicability of the training
immediately after training.
staff experience a significant increase in
their knowledge of communication support
strategies following training (Z=-2.807,
p=0.005). In addition, the training was
positively received by staff, with the majority
rating it as very useful (80%), not difficult