Overview

When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimers disease or any form of dementia it is  likely that the losses have already begun some time before.  Stretching ahead of family members and the person themselves is an uncertain future littered with loss and grief that both comes and goes and comes and stays.

This workshop will take participants through an exploration of the many facets of grief experienced by those affected by dementia.  We will consider the different needs of both the families/carers and the person with dementia themselves.  Strategies will be offered to help people who support these families to engage in an active grieving process that acknowledges both loss and life.

Designed for

Professionals working with those who have experienced bereavement, such as, teachers, counsellors, nurses, therapists, psychologists and other allied health professionals.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• identify the varied losses associated with dementia
• use an understanding of grief and loss theory to support family members
• identify and use strategies that allow an active engagement with the grief being experienced by individuals affected by dementia
• utilise some simple communication tools to be able to work directly with individuals who are living with dementia and acknowledge their grief

Presenter

Greg Roberts

BSW(Hons), CertIV TAE, MAASW, VocGradCertBerCouns&Int

Greg Roberts is a social worker with 19 years’ experience working in the health and community services sector.  In 2001 Greg began to specialise in the field of grief, loss and trauma.  He worked as a Counsellor/Educator with HOPE Bereavement Care/SIDS & Kids from 2003 to 2009 and then as a Regional Specialist Bereavement Counsellor for Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement from 2009 to 2011.  Greg currently works as a counsellor, educator and consultant, specialising in his key interest areas of grief, loss, trauma, stress management and men’s health.  Greg is an accredited member of the Australian Association of Social Workers, and has met the criteria for accreditation as both counsellor & educator with NALAG.  Greg has presented a broad range of interactive training workshops to a variety of audiences throughout Australia.  Greg has recently completed his PhD at Deakin University having conducted longitudinal research on bereaved parent's experiences of spontaneous creativity after the death of a child.

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