Before enlisting the services of a care facility, you must know all the important details. You must find out about the staff, medical services, specialist services, fire procedures and fee structures. In addition, you should know about the resident’s rights. This article focuses on three individuals who have contributed to the field of Dementia Care. They are Josephine, Mark Buhagiar, Dr Martin Kennedy and Andrew.
Josephine’s professional contributions to Dementia Care
Josephine Bowick Abney passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 23, 2020. She was born on March 8, 1919. Her parents were Joseph Caldwell Bowick and Florence Young Bowick. Her husband, John Sydney Abney, was a retired civil servant. Josephine was gifted with exceptional beauty and intelligence. She was also a passionate advocate for dementia care and loved to spend time with her family.
Her passion for dementia care led her to work for the Dementia Support Australia (DSA) for over 30 years. She also ran a Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service, which draws in expertise from across the aged care industry. She also conducted research on the role of a dementia care manager, as well as the benefits of having a specialist team.
Mark Buhagiar’s role as a physiotherapist
Dr. Mark Buhagiar is a physiotherapist who is passionate about communication with patients and their families. He has a background in palliative care, where he was trained in the field of physiotherapy. He continues to contribute Dementia Care Sydney to his field as an Adjunct Supervisor at Macquarie University. In addition, he teaches physiotherapy students at the University of Sydney.
While Mark Buhagiar’s role as an OT at Dementia Care Sydney isn’t well known, his passion for research in the field of dementia has prompted him to work with this unique and innovative organization. He has studied the disease for eight years and has published papers on its impact on society. He has also completed research on the topic with the Dementia collaborative research centre at UNSW.
Dr Martin Kennedy’s role as an Associate Editor of the journal International Psychogeriatrics
As an Associate Editor of the journal International Psychogaging, Dr Martin Kennedy’s primary research interests are in psychiatric genetics and pharmacogenomics. Pharmacogenomics aims to understand drug-gene interactions, as well as how to improve patient outcomes by reducing adverse drug reactions. Genetic variation in genes can help identify factors that affect drug response. Next-generation DNA sequencing is also being investigated for its relevance in drug response phenotypes.
Dr. Kennedy’s research team follows clinical cohorts and develops and tests new interventions. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, as well as a member of the Master of Hospital Medicine. His work as an Associate Editor of the journal International Psychogeriatrics is funded by several contracts and grants, including a $1.5 million contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Andrew’s role as a member of various committees for Dementia Care
Andrew Dawson is a member of several national and international peak bodies for rehabilitation medicine. He was a member of the Fellowship Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Education Committee of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. He is also actively involved in research and teaches medical students in various fields. He has presented virtual lectures and seminars to health professionals on a range of topics, including aged care, general practice and community health.
As a member of various committees for Dementedia Care Sydney, Andrew provides advice to the organisation on policies and practices related to aged care for people with dementia. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, a government agency that considers complaints against private-sector organisations. He has a particular interest in ensuring that informed consent is obtained and implemented in aged care. This includes helping individuals make decisions that are important to them. Also, he is a member of the Australian Dementia Council, which advises on issues related to aged care.