Eminent researcher appointed as dementia consultant in SA

South Australian provider, ACH Group, has appointed Dr Jennifer Abbey as a consultant in aged care nursing to implement innovative approaches to dementia care.

Dr Abbey is one of Australia’s leading nurse researchers in the field of dementia and is a member of the Commonwealth Minister’s National Advisory Body on Dementia.

The main focus of Dr Abbey’s work with the organisation will be the implementation of innovative projects across the organisation, using an evidence-based framework.

Dr Abbey has had an interest in the needs of people with dementia for over 20 years.

She will develop new initiatives to improve staff training, drawing on her contacts and colleagues at the forefront of research and practice in Australia and overseas.

Dr Abbey will also conduct reviews of the organisation’s current approaches to dementia care.

“As people get frailer and as dementia becomes so much more pervasive, we want to move to be at the forefront of dementia care,” she said.

Dr Abbey has a long association with ACH Group, conducting research for her PhD within the organisation.

“It has a total commitment to a values-based approach. Every staff member is very, very aware that there is a values-based approach within the organisation,” she said.

“As with many organisations, I think there are some gaps at the very beginning and some gaps at the very end but it is very open to new ideas.”