Voices in DREAM
Supporting you to support people living with dementia
Are you a frontline worker in dementia care or passionate about improving aged care? Join us for Voices in DREAM — supporting you to support people living with dementia. Voices in DREAM is a new podcast that shares honest stories, practical tips, and culturally responsive care strategies from people in the field in respite, permanent residential, and home care settings.
Hear from support workers, nurses, allied health professionals, and dementia support coaches who know what it’s really like to support and care for people living with dementia, especially in a respite setting.
Listen to our stories and subscribe now for inspiration, advice, and community support to help you deliver the best possible care—one story at a time.
DREAM (Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring) aims to boost the capability of the aged care workforce to deliver quality dementia care. Through a dedicated portal, DREAM provides free access to education, a dynamic network and coaching tailored to individual and organisational needs: https://dream.utas.edu.au/
DREAM is funded by the Australian Government and is free to access.
Voices in DREAM
The power of personal spaces: Designing rooms that feel like home
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Did you know that a residential care home doesn’t have to feel institutional? Personal touches, familiar objects, and warm design can be used to transform rooms into comforting spaces that support memory and dignity.
In this episode, Dr Jo Sun and Yashi discuss the importance of creating personalised, familiar, and dementia-friendly spaces in aged care facilities.
Tune in to learn about:
· Why personalisation reduces anxiety and supports memory
· Simple, affordable changes families and teams can make
· Balancing safety with familiarity in design
· How personal spaces strengthen identity and belonging
Dr Joanna Sun is an environmental gerontologist and lecturer at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. She leads the Design and Dementia Global Knowledge Translation (DESIGN) Project and has over two decades of experience across Singapore and Australia in design, aged care, and dementia care. Her work focuses on enabling environments, cultural influences in dementia care, and knowledge translation. Dr Sun co-developed the Singapore Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT) and contributes to the global Dignity Manifesto of Design for people living with dementia. In 2024, she was recognised as a Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology.
If you work in aged care, respite, or support someone living with dementia, this episode will give you fresh inspiration and practical ideas.