- Over 50% of people with MND can experience cognitive change
- Up to 15% will develop frontotemporal dementia
- Quality education for community carers is vital
With the support of FightMND, Dementia Australia has created a new course on motor neurone disease (MND) in the free mobile app Ask Annie for community carers.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the new course was created based on research and consultation with carers, who requested more specialised education around MND and dementia.
“Research shows over 50 per cent of people with MND can experience changes in thinking and behaviour and up to 15 per cent will develop frontotemporal dementia.1 Quality education for carers about MND and dementia is vital,” said Professor Buchanan.
“Not only does this course provide education on the disease itself, but it also gives carers practical tools they can immediately implement with their clients.”
In an exciting expansion campaign announced today at Dementia Australia’s webinar ‘Understanding MND and Dementia’, Ask Annie’s MND course accompanies other informative self-paced content available, exploring behaviour support plans, elder abuse and providing support for people living with dementia.
Designed for community carers, the three modules in the course are curated to help carers develop the skills to take a proactive, problem-solving approach to supporting people living with MND, while retaining their independence, dignity and autonomy.
MND is an uncommon and life-limiting condition that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As MND progresses, motor neurones deteriorate and die, and a person’s muscles will get progressively weaker.
Ask Annie is an interactive app developed to help care professionals to problem solve and learn on-the-go, developing dementia-specific care skills.
Since launch in 2021, Ask Annie has reached over 36,000 downloads and won the 2022 Future of Ageing Award in the Technology – Business category, educating thousands of carers with an innovative micro-learning approach.
Ask Annie is free to download for both iOS and Android smartphones through the relevant app stores. Individuals can find out more about Ask Annie at dementia.org.au/professionals/professional-development-and-training/ask-annie, call 1300 DEMENTIA (1300 336 368) or email cdl@dementia.org.au.
Organisations can purchase a monitoring package of Ask Annie to track the progress and training of their staff. To find out more about purchasing a monitoring package, please contact development@dementia.org.au for further information.
This new MND course is funded by FightMND. Ask Annie's original platform development was funded by a multi-year Major Grant from Gandel Foundation, with other modules funded by multiple donors including Rosemary Norman Foundation, the Insignia Community Foundation, The John & Mary McAlister Howden Charitable Trust and The Lionel & Yvonne Spencer Trust.
- Cognitive and behaviour change in MND, MND Australia, September 2024
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Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 421,000 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au
Media contacts: Catherine McCarthy, Media and Communications Advisor catherine.mccarthy@dementia.org.au 0466 796 201
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