Patients move to this country for better dementia care: ‘This is what they deserve’

The heart-wrenching journey of dementia is one that too many Australian families are familiar with.

It's a path marked by gradual loss as loved ones slowly succumb to the ravages of a disease that strips away memory and independence.

The stark reality is that Australia's aged care system is failing many of its most vulnerable citizens.



The shortcomings in care and support for those with dementia have become so pronounced that some families are taking drastic measures.

Some have already sought solace in foreign lands where the care seems more compassionate, comprehensive, and competent.


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Dementia patients have been moving overseas for better dementia care. Credit: Shutterstock


One such haven has emerged in the picturesque town of Chiang Mai, Thailand, known for its tranquil surroundings and now, increasingly, for its luxury dementia care resorts.

These facilities offer a level of attention that seems worlds apart from what is available in Australia.

James and Teresa Wise made the life-altering decision to move to Vivobene, a care resort in Chiang Mai, when Teresa's dementia worsened.

‘It suits me most of all because of the quantity of care that's available here,’ James said.

‘I know that Teresa has someone with her from six in the morning until ten at night, and in the future, if I need to make that 24 hours, I can.’

The Wises' story is not unique; Chiang Mai has become a refuge for Westerners desperate to escape the failing aged care systems of their home countries.



Brad Roberts, a nurse who left Australia and now runs Vivobene, believed the answer lies in funding and priorities.

‘This is how it's meant to be, this is how our elders should be cared for, this is what they deserve,’ he said.

‘If we can do it over here in Thailand and in a developing country, it saddens me that Australia can't even come close at the moment.’

He has witnessed firsthand the difference in care and believed that Australia could provide similar levels of service with the right investment.

‘The only way it's gonna happen in Australia is the politicians, finally, please inject some money into age care. That's the only way it's gonna happen,’ he said.

‘We need more people, and then you can have good quality care.’



The experience of Pia Schindler, whose mum Lucy suffered from dementia and faced aggressive episodes in a Sydney nursing home, highlighted the deficiencies in the current system.

‘It's a very long goodbye with dementia, a very long goodbye,’ Pia said.

Staff were often ill-equipped to manage her condition, leading to traumatic incidents and a lack of appropriate care.

‘There was one occasion I was called in at three in the morning, and Mum was on a rampage. The staff on that occasion were inside the linen closet,’ she said.

Lucy was covered in bruises from the staff and emergency services trying to restrain her after each episode.

‘It's not OK because I feel like there were steps that were missed prior to this, steps missed in terms of her medication, behavioural changes, types of care that might've been required at different stages for her, and this was just one of the occasions where this happened to her,’ Pia lamented.


vivobene-resort.jpg
Vivobene Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand, provides quality dementia care services. Credit: Vivobene


While the cost of care in places like Vivobene is quite expensive, dementia patients get the care that they paid for.

James said he paid over $5,000 a month for Theresa's care.

‘It's a quality of care that you can't get in Australia or anywhere else, I think, in the West,’ he said.

‘Unlike in Australia, if you go to an aged care facility, most of them you have to stump up hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the space or the room or the meal or whatever it is you decide to take.’

‘Here, you don't have to do that. So you just pay the monthly fee.’



Despite the challenges in care, Australia is a global leader in dementia research.

Professor Bryce Vissel's connection to the disease has fueled his determination to find a cure.

‘Seeing my own father's journey with dementia was deeply confronting and very, very difficult. But I really want to see change,’ Bryce said.

‘We need to find a cure. We need to find a drug and solutions that really profoundly change the outcome of this disease.’



His team at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney explored groundbreaking theories about the disease's origins and potential treatments.

They believed the real reason for the illness might be the damage to links between nerve cells in the brain.

Fixing those links could help restore memory—and they've already shown this idea true in mice.

‘I think it's a very exciting result. I think people find it exciting and are interested in it, certainly by the feedback we're getting,’ Bryce said.

‘We're willing to find out that we're wrong, we're willing to challenge ourselves, we're willing for other people to try and show us wrong. That's science.’

Bryce hoped a treatment to slow dementia’s progression would be available within five to seven years.

You can watch 60 Minutes Australia’s coverage below:


Credit: 60 Minutes Australia / YouTube

As the world becomes more connected than before, a beacon of hope shines through for aged care residents.

In a previous story, a professor delved into the potential of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, suggesting they offer ‘lots of potential and opportunity’ to improve the quality of life of those in care facilities. You can read more about the story here.
Key Takeaways
  • Deteriorating aged care in Australia is leading families to seek dementia care overseas, especially in Thailand, where personalised 24-hour care is available in luxury resort settings.
  • Australians are choosing these Thai care resorts, like Vivobene, due to the higher quality and quantity of care they offer compared to what's available in Australia.
  • Concerns about the Australian aged care system include inadequate staffing, a lack of proper training to deal with dementia patients, and insufficient funding for high-quality care.
  • Australian researchers are at the forefront of dementia research, pursuing new theories about the disease's causes and hopeful for a treatment that could slow its progression within the next five to seven years.
What are your thoughts about this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
 
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This disease is now being classed by some as the new Type 3 Diabetes. Dr Dale Bredesen and many of his colleagues from America have been researching Dementia for many years and have identified what they believe are the various causes for the disease. He has applied a series of protocols which have proven to be successful in many cases. His own trials have shown a high success rate particularly amongst those who are mildly or moderately affected. This is now becoming more increasingly known throughout the world, or at least from the medical profession that are prepared to listen or research.

To try and determine the cause of the dementia there are a series of examinations that range from blood tests, urine, faeces, hair, MRI's and nasal just to mention a few. Those who are practised in the treatment protocols will laboriously go through these tests and their results to determine the metabolic issues that may be causing it. If they can't find it, they start again. The treatment protocols are quite problematic in the fact that they rely on commitment from the patient and its preferable that there is a level of support required from others such as family and friends. The earlier this occurs the better.

One of the main treatments is diet. The aim is to eliminate sugar from the diet and keep carbohydrates very low. Increase fats is the main key and in many cases eliminate dairy given that it can be inflammatory. Someone suffering dementia effectively cannot get glucose into the brain to give it the energy it needs. The blood brain barrier is the main stumbling block for this and subsequently the brain starts to die. Getting into ketosis means that the liver produces ketones from fat. Those ketones will provide energy for the body and can jump the blood brain barrier and feed the brain. After all the brain is mostly all fat. The intent is to get the person into ketosis at the very least in order to supply some energy to the brain while the cause and treatments applied are being explored.

The worst thing you can give someone with Demetia is sugar and carbs, which in many cases can be the cause of the Dementia in the first place. Unfortunately, most care facilities will feed their patients foods that are doing them more harm than good and apply it as a standard level of care which or course is all wrong. The above information may sound simplistic in its nature, and it is certainly not. Most medical advice will be to go home and prepare your will, get your affairs into order and get busy dying. This is very sad given that from my experience the medical profession and certain establishments associated with it revert to this instead of providing advice and information on the sorts of things that can be done to slow or even stop the progression of the disease.

The takeaway here is, if you are keenly committed to helping yourself or a loved one who is suffering this disease and are capable of doing so then do not trust the umpire's decision and embark on research that is already out there.

I hope this helps a bit.
 
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In the northern beaches of Sydney there are dementia houses. Like group homes of 4 or 5 patients in a suburban home I would like to think that will be the norm in the future. The amount you have to pay to get into a nursing home in Australia is over the top, leading to close family choosing home care and themselves having burn out.
 
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This disease is now being classed by some as the new Type 3 Diabetes. Dr Dale Bredesen and many of his colleagues from America have been researching Dementia for many years and have identified what they believe are the various causes for the disease. He has applied a series of protocols which have proven to be successful in many cases. His own trials have shown a high success rate particularly amongst those who are mildly or moderately affected. This is now becoming more increasingly known throughout the world, or at least from the medical profession that are prepared to listen or research.

To try and determine the cause of the dementia there are a series of examinations that range from blood tests, urine, faeces, hair, MRI's and nasal just to mention a few. Those who are practised in the treatment protocols will laboriously go through these tests and their results to determine the metabolic issues that may be causing it. If they can't find it, they start again. The treatment protocols are quite problematic in the fact that they rely on commitment from the patient and its preferable that there is a level of support required from others such as family and friends. The earlier this occurs the better.

One of the main treatments is diet. The aim is to eliminate sugar from the diet and keep carbohydrates very low. Increase fats is the main key and in many cases eliminate dairy given that it can be inflammatory. Someone suffering dementia effectively cannot get glucose into the brain to give it the energy it needs. The blood brain barrier is the main stumbling block for this and subsequently the brain starts to die. Getting into ketosis means that the liver produces ketones from fat. Those ketones will provide energy for the body and can jump the blood brain barrier and feed the brain. After all the brain is mostly all fat. The intent is to get the person into ketosis at the very least in order to supply some energy to the brain while the cause and treatments applied are being explored.

The worst thing you can give someone with Demetia is sugar and carbs, which in many cases can be the cause of the Dementia in the first place. Unfortunately, most care facilities will feed their patients foods that are doing them more harm than good and apply it as a standard level of care which or course is all wrong. The above information may sound simplistic in its nature, and it is certainly not. Most medical advice will be to go home and prepare your will, get your affairs into order and get busy dying. This is very sad given that from my experience the medical profession and certain establishments associated with it revert to this instead of providing advice and information on the sorts of things that can be done to slow or even stop the progression of the disease.

The takeaway here is, if you are keenly committed to helping yourself or a loved one who is suffering this disease and are capable of doing so then do not trust the umpire's decision and embark on research that is already out there.

I hope this helps a bit.
I don't like the idea of having yucky ketones in my bloodstream such as acetone, acetoacetate and b-hydroxybuytrate due to ketosis.
 
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This disease is now being classed by some as the new Type 3 Diabetes. Dr Dale Bredesen and many of his colleagues from America have been researching Dementia for many years and have identified what they believe are the various causes for the disease. He has applied a series of protocols which have proven to be successful in many cases. His own trials have shown a high success rate particularly amongst those who are mildly or moderately affected. This is now becoming more increasingly known throughout the world, or at least from the medical profession that are prepared to listen or research.

To try and determine the cause of the dementia there are a series of examinations that range from blood tests, urine, faeces, hair, MRI's and nasal just to mention a few. Those who are practised in the treatment protocols will laboriously go through these tests and their results to determine the metabolic issues that may be causing it. If they can't find it, they start again. The treatment protocols are quite problematic in the fact that they rely on commitment from the patient and its preferable that there is a level of support required from others such as family and friends. The earlier this occurs the better.

One of the main treatments is diet. The aim is to eliminate sugar from the diet and keep carbohydrates very low. Increase fats is the main key and in many cases eliminate dairy given that it can be inflammatory. Someone suffering dementia effectively cannot get glucose into the brain to give it the energy it needs. The blood brain barrier is the main stumbling block for this and subsequently the brain starts to die. Getting into ketosis means that the liver produces ketones from fat. Those ketones will provide energy for the body and can jump the blood brain barrier and feed the brain. After all the brain is mostly all fat. The intent is to get the person into ketosis at the very least in order to supply some energy to the brain while the cause and treatments applied are being explored.

The worst thing you can give someone with Demetia is sugar and carbs, which in many cases can be the cause of the Dementia in the first place. Unfortunately, most care facilities will feed their patients foods that are doing them more harm than good and apply it as a standard level of care which or course is all wrong. The above information may sound simplistic in its nature, and it is certainly not. Most medical advice will be to go home and prepare your will, get your affairs into order and get busy dying. This is very sad given that from my experience the medical profession and certain establishments associated with it revert to this instead of providing advice and information on the sorts of things that can be done to slow or even stop the progression of the disease.

The takeaway here is, if you are keenly committed to helping yourself or a loved one who is suffering this disease and are capable of doing so then do not trust the umpire's decision and embark on research that is already out there.

I hope this helps a bit.
What I take from this SDC article for helping dementia patients, is targeting the environment and commitment of compassionate staff at Vivobene.

There are many theories out there about food, in particular the ketogenic diet. I’ve looked into that diet since 2013 and have determined that it’s not sustainable for good health for any length of time except those suffering from seizures and the strict diet is medically supervised.

More evidence is showing that a keto diet is responsible for: nutrient deficiency, liver problems, kidney problems, constipation, fuzzy thinking, and mood swings.

@Joseph Gallina, your statement, “The worst thing you can give someone with Dementia is sugar and carbs…” , is irresponsible. Hopefully, people will have enough common sense to discuss any changes in diet with a professionally trained person who can advise them appropriately.
 
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This disease is now being classed by some as the new Type 3 Diabetes. Dr Dale Bredesen and many of his colleagues from America have been researching Dementia for many years and have identified what they believe are the various causes for the disease. He has applied a series of protocols which have proven to be successful in many cases. His own trials have shown a high success rate particularly amongst those who are mildly or moderately affected. This is now becoming more increasingly known throughout the world, or at least from the medical profession that are prepared to listen or research.

To try and determine the cause of the dementia there are a series of examinations that range from blood tests, urine, faeces, hair, MRI's and nasal just to mention a few. Those who are practised in the treatment protocols will laboriously go through these tests and their results to determine the metabolic issues that may be causing it. If they can't find it, they start again. The treatment protocols are quite problematic in the fact that they rely on commitment from the patient and its preferable that there is a level of support required from others such as family and friends. The earlier this occurs the better.

One of the main treatments is diet. The aim is to eliminate sugar from the diet and keep carbohydrates very low. Increase fats is the main key and in many cases eliminate dairy given that it can be inflammatory. Someone suffering dementia effectively cannot get glucose into the brain to give it the energy it needs. The blood brain barrier is the main stumbling block for this and subsequently the brain starts to die. Getting into ketosis means that the liver produces ketones from fat. Those ketones will provide energy for the body and can jump the blood brain barrier and feed the brain. After all the brain is mostly all fat. The intent is to get the person into ketosis at the very least in order to supply some energy to the brain while the cause and treatments applied are being explored.

The worst thing you can give someone with Demetia is sugar and carbs, which in many cases can be the cause of the Dementia in the first place. Unfortunately, most care facilities will feed their patients foods that are doing them more harm than good and apply it as a standard level of care which or course is all wrong. The above information may sound simplistic in its nature, and it is certainly not. Most medical advice will be to go home and prepare your will, get your affairs into order and get busy dying. This is very sad given that from my experience the medical profession and certain establishments associated with it revert to this instead of providing advice and information on the sorts of things that can be done to slow or even stop the progression of the disease.

The takeaway here is, if you are keenly committed to helping yourself or a loved one who is suffering this disease and are capable of doing so then do not trust the umpire's decision and embark on research that is already out there.

I hope this helps a bit.
Your poster boy, "Doctor" Dale Bredesen, is no better than Dr Phil and Dr Oz. Just pisspoor entrepreneurs.

His ReCode method of reversing Alzheimer's is a rort and has been debunked in journals such as Lancet Neurology and by the Alzheimer's Association of Canada.

I have briefly read his papers and found his methodology to be sadly lacking. His knowledge of statistical analysis of data is non existent.

No need to go on. But I shall respect your right to remain gullible.
 
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The trouble is with so many Nursing Homes, Staff are not trained to deal with Dementia. Even in the Community, where some Dementia Clients can stay at home for longer if Community Staff know how to help and deal with Dementia. As I have worked in both Community and Facility, the last 2 Facilities I worked at (through an Agency) not many of the Staff could deal with Dementia. Also, a lot of the Staff should not have been working in Age Care at all. That also goes in the Community, where I have seen Staff, drop their Clients off at the Food Hall and hop off to do their own stuff.
 
The trouble is with so many Nursing Homes, Staff are not trained to deal with Dementia. Even in the Community, where some Dementia Clients can stay at home for longer if Community Staff know how to help and deal with Dementia. As I have worked in both Community and Facility, the last 2 Facilities I worked at (through an Agency) not many of the Staff could deal with Dementia. Also, a lot of the Staff should not have been working in Age Care at all. That also goes in the Community, where I have seen Staff, drop their Clients off at the Food Hall and hop off to do their own stuff.
Spot on! One of my daughters worked in aged care and wished she’d had training to deal with dementia patients. She did her best, but training would have benefited both staff and residents.
 

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