Aged Care Providers Urged to Address Unique Needs of Stolen Generations Survivors with Dementia

As the frst generation of Stolen Generations Survivors reaches old age, many now grappling with dementia, leading experts are calling on aged care providers to better understand and accommodate their unique needs. Dr. Tiffany McComsey and Harpreet Kalsi-Smith, both from the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, will highlight these concerns at the upcoming International Dementia Conference in Sydney, emphasizing the importance of traumainformed care.

With approximately 17,000 Stolen Generations Survivors aged 50 and over, many are now frail and particularly vulnerable to dementia—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three to fve times more likely to develop the condition than non-Indigenous Australians. Dr. McComsey expressed concern that many aged care facilities lack an understanding of the deep trauma these individuals have experienced, which profoundly impacts their dementia journey.

One innovative approach proposed by Dr. McComsey and Ms. Kalsi-Smith is the use of life story posters. These posters, which would be created with the input of the survivors and their trusted companions, would provide a visual and narrative overview of the person’s life, including their likes, dislikes, and strategies to de-escalate potential tensions. The posters serve as a constant reminder to care staff of the individual’s background and the trauma they have endured, helping to create a more supportive and understanding environment.

Ms. Kalsi-Smith underscored the importance of these life story posters, especially for individuals with dementia who often struggle with communication and memory. “Creating a life story is a useful way to record important information about Stolen Generations Survivors and help others understand and relate to them in a supportive way,” she said.

The Kinchela Boys Home, where many of these survivors spent their childhoods, was a site of intense cultural and psychological abuse. The boys, now referred to as “uncles,” were stripped of their identities, forced to conform to an alien culture, and suffered signifcant trauma. Of the 600 boys who passed through Kinchela, only 50 are alive today, with seven currently living with dementia.

Aged care providers are encouraged not only to adopt the life story poster concept but also to engage in comprehensive training about the legacy of the Stolen Generations. This includes participating in truth-telling processes and ensuring all staff are equipped with traumainformed care practices.

Ms. Kalsi-Smith highlighted the deep fear many Stolen

Generations Survivors feel about entering aged care facilities, which they often associate with the restrictive environments of their childhood. This fear is illustrated by Uncle Colin Davis, a 76-yearold Kinchela Survivor recently diagnosed with dementia, who has expressed a strong desire to avoid aged care homes altogether.

Uncle Colin’s wife, Aunty Rita Davis, voiced concerns that the available aged care options near their home on the NSW South Coast would not meet her husband’s needs.

“For him, it would be like the restrictions he had growing up all over again. Once you put restrictions on him, you never know what he’ll do,” she said.

Dementia Support Australia (DSA), which has provided tailored support to 50,000 people since 2016, emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness and traumainformed care training for aged care staff. DSA Head of Professional Services Marie Alford stressed that all aged care services should understand the triggers of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) in Stolen Generations Survivors and know how to safely de-escalate them.

The upcoming International Dementia Conference, hosted by The Dementia Centre, will bring these critical issues to the forefront, as aged care providers and policymakers gather to discuss the future of dementia care in Australia. As the needs of Stolen Generations Survivors become more urgent, it is clear that a tailored, culturally sensitive approach is essential for their care and well-being.