Community Partners
Program
Supporting Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse Older People
Who Have Experienced Trauma
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2008
MACSWA
Workshop Facilitators
Insert facilitators’ names here
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2008
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Workshop Outline
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Overview of ……and ……..services
Working with CALD clients
Definitions of trauma and PTSD
Case study
Strategies in the workplace
Evaluation
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2008
MACSWA
Agency Information
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2008
MACSWA
Agency Information
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2008
MACSWA
Traumatic Events
A traumatic event is one in which
• The person experienced, witnessed, or
was confronted with an event or events
that involved actual or threatened death
or serious injury, or a threat to the
physical integrity to self or others.
• The person’s response involved intense
fear, helplessness or horror.
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM – IV)
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2008
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Developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Subsequent to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event
a person may develop ongoing characteristic symptoms
described in the DSM – IV as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder or PTSD.
The development of this disorder may depend on variables
such as
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Emotional and/or psychological resilience
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Pre trauma experiences
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Severity and extent of the traumatic experiences
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Level of support before, during and following those
experiences
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2008
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Impact of Trauma - Mental Changes
• Concentration problems and memorising
difficulties
• Disorientation
• Intrusive memories
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2008
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Impact of Trauma – Affective Changes
• Fear, guilt, anger, loss, grief
• Anxiety, phobias, panic attacks-fear of
complete disintegration
• Depression-paralysed helplessness,
diminished power & control, unresolved
grief and loss
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2008
MACSWA
Impact of Trauma – Behavioural Changes
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Sleeping and eating disorders
Irritability, impulsiveness, aggression
Withdrawal, avoidance
Relationship difficulties, cross-generational
difficulties
Suicidal ideations
Domestic violence
Psychosomatic complaints
Impairment in functioning in practical matters
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2008
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Triggers
• Triggers are different for each person and
can be thoughts, images, sounds and
smells, tastes, stressful situations and
many more.
• Many stimuli can only be identified as
triggers, once details of the person’s
personal history are known.
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2008
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Potential Triggers
• Can be a normal, everyday event that
relates to past trauma.
• Being placed in an aged care facility can
be a reminder of loss of home, family and
community.
• Injections, visits to the doctor
• Knocks on the door
Copyright ASeTTS/ MACSWA
2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Similarities - Mental Function
A Client may:
• Be very forgetful of recent events - memory for distant
past generally seems better although some details may
be confused.
• Become lost if away from familiar surroundings or be
unable to find their way around.
• Be forgetful about practical tasks, eg: forget saucepan
on stove.
Copyright ASeTTS/ MACSWA
2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Similarities - Personality & Behavioural Changes
A Client may:
• Behave inappropriately or oddly.
• Be aggressive, perhaps without apparent
cause.
• Be neglectful of hygiene or eating.
• Be disturbed at night.
• Be restless and anxious
• Become angry, upset or distressed through frustration.
Similarities - Physical
• Mobility problems.
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2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Differences - Mental Function
A client may:
Dementia
PTSD
Be confused about time and
place and day and night.
Be confused about time and
place, rarely confuse day
and night.
Forget names of friends,
family or confuse family
members.
Forget names. Rarely forget
or confuse names of family
members.
See or hear things that are
not there.
Experience flashbacks.
Copyright ASeTTS/ MACSWA
2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Differences - Mental Function (cont’d)
A client may:
PTSD
Dementia
Become very repetitive.
Not normally associated with
PTSD.
Fail to recognise everyday
objects.
Not a symptom of PTSD may be factor of culture.
Have difficulties with
comprehension.
Their speech may make
little sense.
Have occasional difficulties
with comprehension.
Their speech may make little
sense
(cultural/language)
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2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Differences – personality and behavioural
A client may:
Dementia
PTSD
Wander around streets,
becoming completely lost,
sometimes at night.
Wander around streets, may
become lost, rarely at night.
Need help or supervision with
feeding, washing, toileting,
dressing.
Not a symptom of PTSD.
Take clothes off
inappropriately.
Not a symptom of PTSD.
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2008
MACSWA
Dementia &
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Differences - Physical
A client may:
Dementia
Be incontinent of urine
and/or faeces.
PTSD
Not a symptom of PTSD.
Adapted from:
Stages of Dementia by
Alzheimer’s Australia, WA
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2008
MACSWA