Falls, confusion and other issues. Could medicines with anticholinergic effects be the cause?

Brent Skimmings – facilitator

Brent Skimmings is a Registered Nurse, with extensive clinical experience nursing in Australia and the UK.

Brent has also worked as a Clinical Manager in numerous residential aged care facilities in NSW and has a diploma in Aged Care Management. He spent several years as a teacher and clinical facilitator for aged care and nursing students for NSW TAFE. He is currently an Educational Visitor Lead with NPS MedicineWise.

Melissa Cromarty

Melissa is a Board Director at the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA). Mel currently works as a Facility Manager at Calvary Care. She is a residential aged care nurse, and has qualifications and experience in emergency, intensive care, general practice and aged care.

Mel’s passions include promoting the positive impact of nurses in improving health outcomes and the important role nurses play in chronic disease management and preventative health.

In a previous role, Mel was Team Leader with the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network where she helped increase the profile of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to ensure that general practices understood and appreciated the value of nurses in the primary care setting. Mel has also educated PHNs about their role in implementing alternate models of care.

Prior to joining APNA’s Board, Mel was involved with APNA’s Education Endorsement Program, Conference Advisory Committee and represented APNA on the Decision Assist Advisory Group on Palliative Care.

Dr Paresh Dawda

Paresh Dawda is a GP with a clinical practice focused on people with complex and chronic health care needs, including older people who are housebound and those in residential aged care. His practice provides a team-based approach to care of older people.

Paresh is Co-Chair of the PHN's Clinical Council and GP Adviser to NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and eHealth. He is Co-Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee on Quality Care and was a member of the group that reviewed and produced the RACGP's aged care clinical guide (Silver Book).

Paresh is Adjunct Professor at University of Canberra and Adjunct Associate Professor at UNSW. He also provides consultancy services on value-based and high-performing health care.

Sally Leedham

Sally has an Aged Care Certificate IV in Ageing Support and over 18 years’ experience providing assistance with maintaining quality of life and delivering person-centred care. She currently works as a Care Service Employee in an aged care facility

Simone Palmer

Carer and consumer representative