Sonas aPc - Conference

Person-Centred Communication in Dementia

Sonas aPc Conference, 18th May 2009
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Newland's Cross, Dublin

This conference aimed to increase the understanding of person-centred communication in dementia and provide delegates with practical knowledge in this area. It explored the experience of dementia, including behaviour that is challenging to staff or carers, and gave residential care providers guidance on how to demonstrate evidence of best practice within the context of the HIQA National Standards.

Mary Harney, Minister for Health & Children, opened the conference and presented awards for Excellence in the Implementation of Sonas to St Luke’s Home, Mahon, Cork and TLC Centre, Swords, Co Dublin.

The keynote speakers and links to presentations where available are listed below:

	David Sheard, Dementia Care Matters
	More Being, Less Doing Person-Centred Care
	*Butterfly Workshop*
	Professor Greg Swanwick, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist
	Communicating with Those Whose Behaviour is Challenging to Staff or Carers
	Mary O’Donnell, Quality Standards & Governance Officer for HSE Dublin/Mid-Leinster
	Demonstrating Evidence of Person-Centred Care in Dementia to meet HIQA National Standards
	Professor Dawn Brooker, Dementia Care Practice and Research, University of Bradford
	Look Closer, See Me Not Just the Dementia: Inspecting for Better Practice in Care Homes
	John Killick and Kate Allan, Directors, Dementia Positive
	Engaging with People with Dementia Through Nonverbal Communication

Parallel sessions in the afternoon were held on the topics indicated below.

	Sensory Stimulation and Sonas: Practical ways to meet HIQA requirements
	Engaging with People with Dementia through Nonverbal Communication
	Attending to the Spiritual Needs of the Older Person with Dementia. This session will be presented by Gaynor Hammond, Dementia Project Worker for ‘Faith in Elderly People’ Leeds, and Northern Baptist College.
	Person-Centred Communication in Dementia in the Residential Setting, An Example of Best Practice: Ryevale Nursing Home, Leixlip, Co. Kildare