In our final episode of 2025, it is my greatest honor to welcome our third international star: Nicola Jacobson-Wright, a dementia practice development coach and professor at the University of Worcester based in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Nicola is a gifted dancer and she shared with us her lovely journey into dementia care. Our conversation touched on her initiative, Dance and Dementia, where she aims to engage those living with dementia through movement and dance. Moreover, we discussed the state of dementia and care in the UK as well as the infamous Namaste Care approach that Nicola and her colleagues developed at the Association for Dementia Studies. Nicola shared the latest research, implementation techniques, and delivery approaches of Namaste Care.

Looking forward to you joining our lovely conversation! 🤍

#dementia #dance #namaste #sensory

In this episode, I am pleased to welcome our second international guest: Dr. Cecilia Chan, an imaginative gerontologist, dementia advocate and activist based in Malaysia. Our conversation focused on the rising aging population in Malaysia, the stigmatized discourse surrounding dementia in Malaysia, and how innovative community-based projects that she lead such as the Forgotten Mutiara Café plays a key role to transform the perception and culture of dementia care. I also had the privilege to learn about her other beautiful initiatives including the Totsu-Totsu Therapeutic Arts and Dancing with Dementia Retreat, which have been featured in national and international media.

You surely do not want to miss this beautiful conversation! ✨ Together, let’s uncover this majestic but forgotten Mutiara!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cecilia Chan and Her Work
04:29 Understanding Aging in Malaysia
09:50 The Stigma Surrounding Dementia in Malaysia
14:31 Community-Based Advocacy Initiatives
16:40 The Forgotten Mutiara Cafe
21:02 Therapeutic Arts and Dance Retreats
22:10 Pharmaceutical vs Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches
24:42 Building Relationships in Care
25:59 Supporting Families in Dementia Care
27:01 Mindfulness and the Future of Dementia Care

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome our very first international guest: Dr. Dimity Pond, a renowned general practitioner and dementia researcher from the University of Newcastle, Australia. Dr. Pond shared her beautiful journey into aged care and dementia research. We discussed existing challenges and innovations in Australia’s healthcare system, including implications of the new Aged Care Act. We discussed how respect and dignity play a key role in dementia care. Dr. Pond also shared exciting research into preventive activities for dementia care and offered invaluable clinical perspectives.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Constance Dimity-Pond
02:38 Journey into General Practice and Research
08:04 Understanding Dementia: Personal and Professional Perspectives
12:36 The Stigma of Dementia and Societal Views
17:33 Communicating a Dementia Diagnosis with Compassion
20:12 Tailoring Care Approaches for Dementia Patients
22:26 Navigating Non-Pharmaceutical vs. Pharmaceutical Interventions
26:59 Cultural Perspectives on Dementia Care
30:52 The New Age Care Act: A Paradigm Shift
33:40 Preventive Activities in Dementia Care
38:05 Respect and Dignity are Key