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Churchill Fellowship awarded to Eldercare dementia care specialist

Eldercare Dementia Excellence Program Manager Sarah Jamieson was presented with a 2017 Churchill Fellowship at Government House last night.

The Fellowship, awarded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, will allow Ms Jamieson to travel to the United Kingdom and Europe next year to undertake research about the specific care, environmental and social needs of people who are living with younger onset dementia and require residential care.

Ms Jamieson said she was humbled to receive a Fellowship and have the opportunity explore established, sustainable and innovative environments, models of care and social systems that support, maintain and improve the quality of life for this unique group of people.

“Being awarded this Fellowship marks the beginning of a life-changing adventure that will help me to develop the skills, and acquire the knowledge, required to benefit people living with younger onset dementia as well as the wider community,” said Ms Jamieson.

“Despite Eldercare’s person-centred approach, our passion for enhancing wellbeing and our multiple success stories, I often see people who are living with younger onset dementia really struggle in aged care facilities where most other people are much older.

“Traditional residential aged care often does not meet the needs of people living with younger onset dementia as they are at another stage of life when compared to others living in residential care.”

Ms Jamieson said she was keen to connect with UK-based organisation Admiral Nurses which is a national community service that has been established to provide specialist dementia support and care for people living with dementia and their families.

“My study tour will hopefully provide me with ideas, methods, inspiration and strategies to help people living with younger onset dementia maintain their potential, lifestyle, connections, quality of life and wellbeing.

“The information and evidence I source about how to better support people with younger onset dementia, design appropriate physical and social environments and work with people living with younger onset dementia to create the service they need, and want, will help Eldercare continue to deliver peace of mind with its care.”

According to Dementia Australia, younger onset dementia is a term used to describe any form of dementia diagnosed in people under the age of 65.

There are currently 25,938 people living with younger onset dementia in Australia which is 7.2% of all people living with dementia.

Image: Eldercare Dementia Excellence Program Manager Sarah Jamieson being presented her Churchill Fellowship by His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC.

View the gallery for more images from the night:

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