Speak Out February 2019

Aged care Q&A

Over to you... AS PART OF OUR SERIES OF ARTICLES SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS WORKING ACROSS DIVERSE ROLES IN AGED CARE, WE PRESENT AN INTERVIEW WITH MARGARET POZZEBON, A MELBOURNE BASED SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WHO WORKS IN A SPECIALIST DEMENTIA DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC AND ON AGED CARE INPATIENT WARDS. MARGARET, WHO RECENTLY SUBMITTED HER PHD, SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON THE REWARDS OF HER JOB AS A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, AND THE KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE PROFESSION.

Margaret has worked in the field of adult neurology for over thirty years across a number of different settings and care continuums; inpatient ward settings, in specialist dementia diagnostic clinics in large public metropolitan hospitals, providing private consultations at home and at aged care facilities. Her clients have a range of different neurocognitive disorders (i.e. dementia) that may impact their language, social-cognitive-behavioural abilities, motor speech and/or swallowing skills. Margaret identified a gap in

“There are various forms of language led dementias that are finely distinguishable by their unique speech-language characteristics. Increasingly, I recognise that our medical colleagues (such as geriatricians and psycho-geriatricians) highly value our input. I also find it very rewarding to work with clients in exploring ways around their communication-related challenges by capitalising on their preserved abilities, and seizing on opportunities that allows them to continue enjoying life. “As a speech pathologist working in the

meeting the emotional-communicative needs of spouses, and this lead to her undertaking her PhD. As part of her doctoral studies, she conducted qualitative research into the spousal experience of Primary Progressive Aphasia (which as an uncommon language led dementia). Four papers have been published in international journals, and some have become highly cited. Margaret acknowledges the much-valued contribution speech pathology provides to the diagnosis and management of language led dementias, and highlights the need for graduate competencies in ageing and dementia as requirements for working with older adults.

aged care sector, I particularly enjoy working closely with clients, their spouse and close others in their desire to find alternative ways to stay emotionally connected, despite the many obstacles imposed on them by their neurodegenerative illness and/or fragility of advancing age. “I think a key opportunity for speech pathologists is to embrace the reality of an ageing society that presents across our clinical caseloads. As a profession, we need to ensure that our discipline is equipped with specialist knowledge and skills to meet this challenge. There is also a shift in societal attitude towards providing evidence-

based quality care and service provision, which also enhances quality of life. Speech pathology in ageing and dementia has emerged as a new and exciting frontier only in recent years. As a profession, we need to seek avenues and opportunities to promote our profile and unique contributions we offer to older adults, their spouses and families, as well as organisations operating within in the aged care sector. Positively enhancing the profile of speech pathologists working in aged care may also be promoted by ensuring there are real opportunities for career advancement and research.”

“There are several aspects of my role as a speech pathologist in aged care that I find highly rewarding and personally satisfying. I have come to realise that by having an understanding about language and cognitive-communication skills across the life span, as well as knowledge about the wide range of degenerative- neurocognitive disorders, I am able to make invaluable contributions towards determining the underlying diagnosis of a client’s illness that has sometimes gone unclarified for years.

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February 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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