The Spark of Life Program:

You get amazing results straight away when you apply the principals of the Spark of Life Program.  The results just keep coming and now, after 18 months, we are amazed at the responses of our residents when we create new games for their individual needs.

Jane's Presentation:

I have attended many education sessions and seminars but always came away feeling frustrated, not understanding how to break through the barriers of dementia.  When I attended the two-day seminar on Spark of Life, it suddenly became clear to me that people with dementia can't be treated on the same level.  Providing activities that meet each individual's cognitive, communication and social needs at a level they can cope with has proved to be the most effective way to reach people with dementia.  After 18 months, I feel that I can truly break through the barriers of dementia.

Helen Forrest, Archbishop Duhig Nursing Home

"...at our annual Tri State Conference... Jane rated as the best presenter... To achieve this kind of rapport with audiences of varying size is no mean feat with a sensitive subject area... Jane is a master at breaking through those barriers to communication."

Training Co-ordinator, Aged Care Victoria Inc Australia

"Since the workshops, some managers were requested to list the changes they have managed to implement with staff support. Some of the achievements listed have been:

1. Sense of playfulness and fun has increased significantly

2. Increased participation of relatives in resident activities

3. A decrease in the incidence of aggressive behaviours from residents

4. A decrease in the number of ‘fall related' incidents across 3 facilities

5. An increase in compliments from residents, relative and visitors."

Carmel Schweitzer - Rockhampton Health Service, QLD, Australia

"I now understand deeply that there is my reality, the reality of the other person and hopefully, a shared realm of emotional needs. I know that if I discount the reality of the other, nothing will be achieved. If I identify and work with the unmet emotional needs, there is every chance of both parties being satisfied."

Paddy Spruce - Private Home Carer

"....The first time I met him, he was totally paralysed and passive. Partly because of the crisis and partly because of the psychopharmacological drugs! He is now totally drug free!! Oh, Jane, he is just one example out of many that shows that it (Spark of Life Club Program) works and that there is so much that can be done. He will always be in my heart."

Jette Kallenhauge, Alzheimer Association, Roskilde, Denmark

"Jane Verity is a Dane with a tremendous knowledge of person-centred dementia care. Frankly, I think she is one of the best I have ever seen. She has been living and working in Australia for the past 17 years. She has perfect English and is a wizard at making things happen. She has a dream of creating a center for the study and practice of holistic person-centred dementia care."

Dr Bill Thomas- Founder Eden Alternative USA

"Dear Jane, the sensitivity with which you conveyed "symbolic language" the 7 step illustration of ‘poisoned porridge' and the nutrition article, particularly the oft-over looked need for loved ones on tube feeding to still be involved at social gatherings....WOW!"

Brenda Avadian, California USA

"I was amazed to realise that in only three hours my staff had changed from a group of tired and stressed nurses to a team which showed great commitment to try the new learned strategies and implement them when dealing with the residents... we are looking forward to the next lecture."

Director of Nursing, Tabulam Nursing Home, Vic, Australia

"It ignited and re-kindled the passion for people with dementia in everyone's heart. The feedback from the workshop has been phenomenal. Jane is absolutely brilliant, inspiring. We need more people like her to spread this important message. Thanks so much!"

Olesia Veremchuk - Allied Health Consultant ,WA Australia

"Jane has the ability to help her audience feel what it is like to have dementia and understand the needs of people with dementia. I have not heard any other speaker do this so well. I have had extremely positive feedback from the management at the hostel, who have noticed so many positive outcomes (improvements) in their residents through participation in this program (Spark of Life Club Program) that they have extended the program from one weekly Sunshine Club to seven different Sunshine Club sessions a week run by a number of different staff."

Hilary Lee - Occupational Therapist WA, Australia

"Shows how to lift the spirit, promote dignity and improve self worth. Shows how communication is so much more that just the exchange of words. The Sunshine Club at Gwen Hardie Lodge has made a tremendous difference to our residents and staff...highly recommend these principles."

Lindsay Cuthbert - Gwen Hardie Lodge WA, Australia

"Jane's training sessions have resulted in a marked shift in the approach staff take when working with people with dementia. Staff continually report that the strategies and approaches they have used following a Jane Verity presentation have produced notable and significant changes in the person who has dementia - for example a person who has been withdrawn and unresponsive to the people around them has become animated and interactive with others as a result of working with the care worker who employs strategies learnt from Jane's presentations. "

Glenys O'Brien - Rural and Remote Services SA, Australia

"We also enjoyed her energy and sense of humour. We look forward to Jane's return to the states when we'll use her services to great advantage again to enhance our journey toward Person Directed Care."

Michael Berry - CEO Wisconsin USA

"The greatest testimonial I can give on Jane's behalf comes from the staff working within our organisation. Time and time again staff tell me that Jane's was the best training they have ever been to and that not only did Jane give them the skills to rekindle the Spark of Life for people they care for but also rekindled their own spark to work in aged care."

Heidi Dowse - Clinical Nurse Consultant NSW, Australia

"Jane stimulated everyone's enthusiasm to return to their workplace and put into practice the knowledge she had shared.....our team relationships and personal growth have been enriched. All who attended Jane's seminars have expressed she is one of the best lecturers we have heard. We do not hesitate to support this sentiment wholeheartedly."

Kardinia Centre - Belmont VIC Australia

"Jane, thank you for rekindling my spark and passion for caring for those with dementia. I feel lately I've been experiencing burn out because I get caught up in the paperwork and regulations and forgot what bought me into this profession in the first place - my love for people."

Tricia Povirk - Kansas City USA

"She simply took all participants by storm and she managed to reach into the hearts of all 438 participants. She has a unique way of reaching everyone in the way that she supports her message - visually, auditorally, and kinesthetically in a polished way. We were promised an elite day - and we got it."

Bente Sandal - Morsoe Shire Denmark

"We wore our regular name badges for two weeks and kept score as to how many times residents initiated interaction by calling the staff member by name. The outcome was 0 times. Then we wore our new name badges that were written in Times New Roman, black on white, size 60 font, bold and expanded and upper and lower case letters for 2 weeks. The outcome was the residents called staff members by name 122 times. Not only did our residents with dementia love the new name badges but our alert and orientated residents voiced appreciation also!"

Ruth Hovland - Wisconsin USA

"Evaluation surveys conducted by Aged Care Victoria rated Jane as the best presenter at conferences outscoring a number of very experienced professional consultants and presenters.............Jane is a master at breaking through these barriers to communication."

Aged Care Victoria Inc - Balwyn VIC Australia

"Overall, the presentation was outstanding. In fact, the influence of Jane's visit is still discussed in our dementia-specific wing and the approach and activities that Jane highlighted have become the basis for quality care for our residents."

Imlay House - Pambula NSW, Australia

"Just a quick note to say thank you for your articles. I have been feeling disgruntled with my position in Aged Care and upon reading articles on your web site I gained incentive to carry on. My biggest concern is I cannot give enough time to each resident."

Anne Hall - Aged Carer, NSW, Australia.

I am fortunate enough to be working in a high care dementia unit in Trafalgar, Victoria. I purchased two rainbow uniforms and need to tell you about the fabulous reaction I have gained from some of our residents who are suffering dementia and no longer communicate with us verbally. The colours have had an immediate positive reaction from these residents who appear to light up when I approach them; I have no problem getting long cuddles from them now! Thank you so much for the great colour range, total comfort to work in, easy to wash-n-wear; only problem is now I'm saving madly to buy one in every colour! Well done and thanks again for helping me continue to enhance the living environment of the person with dementia!

My co-worker has also purchased two rainbow uniforms and is eagerly awaiting their arrival. I'm enjoying continuing success with communication with our residents who now approach me with arms open, what joy! Our facility has created a dementia taskforce that will spend a year creating a better living environment for people with dementia and these uniforms will now become part of the outcome.

Sharon -Victoria