Ask Annie is a free and interactive app developed by Dementia Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning to help aged and community care professionals problem solve and learn on-the-go, developing dementia-specific care skills.
In an exciting expansion campaign announced this week at Dementia Australia’s webinar ‘Making Behaviour Support Plans Work for You’, Ask Annie is now freely accessible to aged care workers looking to develop their person-centred care for those living with dementia.
Within the expansion of the mobile app, Ask Annie now includes a new program for Residential Aged Care – Plan Behaviour Support, with an additional 4 modules and 19 lessons. This includes branched scenarios to provide workers with real world scenarios and decision-making opportunities to learn through trial and error.
More than two-thirds (68%) of aged care residents have moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Residential aged care providers are required to have a behaviour support plan in place for each consumer who may require the use of restrictive practices as part of their care.
Ask Annie now provides workers with a 24/7 resource in their pocket for behaviour support planning, to ensure best practice, solutions-based thinking and empathetic delivery of person-centred care.
Since the app was launched in June 2021, there has been more than 20,000 downloads, with 11,200 current active users.
Catherine Horne, General Manager (Clinical) at aged care service NoosaCare, said she appreciates the user-friendly nature of Ask Annie in this video message.
“You log in, and in the snap of a finger you’ve got a recommendation for how to address the situation,”
“By helping our team, we are helping the residents and their families.”
Dr David Sykes, Director Centre for Dementia Learning, Dementia Australia said that this expansion of the app aims to provide a supportive resource to aged care workers in an accessible way.
“Aged care workers are tasked with such an important job in providing quality care for people living with dementia. Workers need to feel supported and well equipped with relevant training,”
“Ask Annie can provide this support, as a ‘coach in your pocket’ encouraging solutions-based thinking using practical advice that workers can apply to their practice.”
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 https://dementialearning.org.au/technology/ask-annie/, call 1300 DEMENTIA (1300 336 368) or email [email protected],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 [email protected] for further information.
This new module ‘Plan Behaviour Support’ has been funded by ARIIA (Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia) and the Rosemary Norman Foundation. 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 Insignia Financial’s charitable foundation, The John & Mary McAlister Howden Charitable Trust and The Lionel & Yvonne Spencer Trust.
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 1.5 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.
If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.
