Vitality Cafe | September 2023

Karen Malcom, Consultant Speech Pathologist will be joining us at our September Cafe as our Guest Speaker. 

Qualifications: B Sp Thy (UQ 1976), Certified Cert Health Management (QUT 2000), Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), Member of Speech Pathology Association of Australia (SPAA)

Karen brings a vast expereince with over 45 years of diversity in both scope of clinical practice with infants & children to the aged, dementia & palliative care

management to a variety of service delivery models in NGO, ‘not for profit’, education, healthcare and private practice settings and a Sunshine Coast for for the past 32 years.

Currently employed by Food Solutions – Diet Consultants as a Consultant Speech Pathologist in numerous Residential Aged Care Facilities, for community based clients and ‘The Buderim Private Hospital’.

Join us for a interactive presentation, where Karen will be free to answer any of your questions.

How dementia affects communication

Changes in communication are among the earliest features of dementia.  These changes depend on the type of dementia and the person’s unique  symptoms.

How communication changes affect daily life

Having meaningful conversations with family and friends is one of the  most important aspects of living well with dementia. However, when communication changes occur, these activities can become challenging.  Because of this, people with dementia may withdraw from social events and interactions.  Other daily activities that rely on communication can also be affected.

This includes:

• making appointments
• answering telephone calls
• writing shopping lists
• calling for help
• having conversations about health care

How a speech pathologist can help

Speech pathologists help people with dementia with communication and independence. They use assessment, diagnosis, intervention and education to provide  therapy, strategies and aids to help navigate communication changes.  Speech pathologists can also help family members and friends to help maintain connection and relationships.

Speech pathologists can make communities more dementia-friendly by  providing  communication partner training, accessible written  information and signage, or promoting use of aids or technology like  iPads to optimise communication.

This is a FREE Event, but a gold coin donation (into our 'Pig') is appreciated.   RSVP  is essential, so please register for catering purposes.