Overview

The APS hosts this activity with the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group (PAIG).

Clinical practice guidelines highlight the role of non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment of behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia.

This webinar outlines an established trans-disciplinary approach to behaviour support for people living with dementia that considers not only the progression of the disease, but also environmental, social, psychological, and biological factors contributing to changed behaviours. It will also formulate non-pharmacological interventions that can be implemented by those in the person’s care network.

Findings from national dementia behaviour support programs and case vignettes, illustrate the complexity of supporting changed behaviours in those experiencing the wide-ranging impacts of dementia in the challenging context of the aged care system. These examples will also demonstrate the outcomes that can be achieved from a co-ordinated and person-centred approach that draws on the input of multiple disciplines alongside the intimate knowledge of a person’s life story, values and preferences that family members bring.

In exploring how the knowledge, skills and psychological flexibility of those in a person’s care-network are critical to outcomes, participants will be encouraged to reflect on how psychologists can support people with dementia-related behaviours, and those who care for them.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to the recording and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details 

• On-demand webinar recording 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• apply an eco-biopsychosocial approach and principles of functional behavioural assessment to understand changed behaviours in people living with dementia,

• understand a range of approaches to addressing the causes of changes in behaviours, including non-pharmacological strategies and engaging medical, allied health and care supports, and

• reflect on how the discipline of psychology can add value to the care of people living with dementia and their families when behaviour changes.

Presenter(s)

Sarah Elder

About the presenter(s)

Since completing her postgraduate studies in health psychology in 2004, Sarah has specialised in dementia care. She has worked in the non-government sector providing counselling, education, cognitive rehabilitation, behaviour support, and clinical supervision for provisional psychologists, and also worked in program-development and management roles.

Sarah has supported people affected by dementia at all points of the disease trajectory, from those at risk of developing dementia and concerned about their memory, to those impacted by a new dementia diagnosis or by changed living and care circumstances as the disease progresses, as well as those bereaved by the loss of a family member with dementia.

Sarah currently works as a Senior Dementia Consultant at Dementia Support Australia, where she has consulted in a range of programs since 2017. Sarah is a registered psychologist, having completed undergraduate training in psychology at the University of Tasmania and a Doctor of Psychology (Health) from the University of Southern Queensland. Sarah is based in Hobart.