World dementia expert presents guest lecture at UOW

Jun 27, 2007

A world expert on dementia care has been visiting the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions this week during which time she has been meeting community care providers and conducting a series of research seminars.

The Director of the Centre for Applied Research on Aging and Health at Thomas Jefferson University in the United States, Professor Laura Gitlin, has been visiting both regions at the invitation of the Eastern Australia Dementia and Training Study Centre under the directorship of the University of Wollongong’s Associate Professor Victoria Traynor.

Professor Traynor said that aged care was one of the fastest-growing industries in Australia and in order to stay responsive to clients’ needs it was imperative that health professionals keep abreast of current best practice and innovations.

Professor Gitlin’s expertise is on family caregiving, environmental modifications and adaptation to disability and home-based interventions to improve functional status of older adults and family caregivers.

Yesterday afternoon (June 26), Professor Gitlin presented a special guest lecture at the University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine auditorium entitled: “Can we improve quality of life in persons with dementia and their family caregivers? The role of environment”.

And today (June 27), Professor Gitlin is presenting a seminar to a research masters class entitled ‘Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches in Aged Care’. It is being conducted from 10am to noon in Room 104, Building 41.

On Monday of this week, Professor Gitlin visited Warrigal Care: Mackander Village, Albion Park; • Kiama Hospital, Transitional and Rehabilitation Care; and Mayflower Village, Gerringong.

Tomorrow (28 June), Professor Gitlin will visit the Berry Men’s Shed, North Street, Berry, and Hammond Care Community Care, 6/65 Queen Street Berry.