Marianne Piano

Shh. Don’t tell anyone but I’ve built an academic career on some of this stuff.

I got a paper published about a plastic chicken motion sensor that someone used to stop their wife with dementia going outside.

That paper’s been referenced over 100 times now.

I stand at the podium in a green top next to a large screen with a slide saying "Improving eyecare experiences for people living with dementia".

Selfie of me in a floral top and red glasses next to a banner saying International Orthoptic Congress 2025

Selfie with myself in a green top and red glasses with brown hair, and two other women (brown hair, silver earrings and a dark top, blonde hair, wire glasses and black and white patterned top). We're all smiling at the camera and there is a grey kangaroo statue poking his head into the image in the bottom right corner. The backdrop reads "International Orthoptic Association"

What an awesome time we had at the International Orthoptic Congress #IOC2025! I loved reconnecting with my UK pals and also meeting Dutch orthoptists Anne and Louise! Anne is supporting Mirjam Tilborg's Directions project at Hogeschool Utrecht about dementia-friendly eyecare 🤗

The language is not person-centred unfortunately, but the actual story is fun! Sometimes it feels like we're living in a headline from the Onion or Betoota Advocate anyway 😅

Selfie in front of International Orthoptic Congress poster - I'm wearing a floral patterned top today

So hype for a weekend of geeking out with the squad 🤓 #IOC2025

Huge hype for #IOC2025 tomorrow!! I can't wait to see people ❤️

Oh my dad gets really frustrated every time there's an update and layout change! I messaged him and turns out he was at a model train expo so i demanded pics 😂

My dad loves collecting coins and stamps, this is just one of his coins. He really enjoyed showing us all his goodies! He was talking about a lot of technical stuff to do with stamp perforations and things that he's learned recently. So I hope he will enjoy the activities in the Brain Track app!

I installed the Dementia Australia Brain Track app on my dad's phone last week when I was visiting cos he said he was worried about his memory. I set it all up with his details so he can get started, but now I have to remind him it's there 😂

Bluesky is “screen reader accessible” the way a staircase with curb cuts on each step is a “wheelchair ramp.”
No keyboard nav. No useful landmarks. No focus memory. I lose my place every time I interact with a post.
Compliance ≠ usability.
Day 23 asking @support.bsky.team to fix this #A11yFail

Me standing in front of my poster.

Obligatory poster selfie! Come to 212 and chat to me about dementia rehabilitation! #ANZSGM2025

Achievement unlocked: ambushed Prof Susan Kurrle with one of my dementia-friendly eyecare booklets 🏆 Come and see me at poster #212 at lunchtime if you'd like one! I have some cards about Guide Dogs' new SeeWay service for ppl with early vision loss too! #ANZSGM2025

Basically our role as eyecare professionals is to help untangle the question of "is it their eyesight or their dementia?"

We have many different tests we can use (and adapt) to assess people living with dementia! Even if someone is nonverbal, we can still test! #ANZSGM2025

Neuro-orthoptists are better placed for rehab and workarounds for families - we receive extensive education on the visual pathway and visual processing! Ppl with PCA need more creative approach to low vision support 💪 #ANZSGM2025

Somebody asked on slido: How effective is the most basic optometry review in identifying more complex visual dysfunction for patients with dementia?

Optom role is to rule out contributing factors e.g. binocular vision issues and can refer to neuro-ophthalmologist.
#ANZSGM2025

Elissa in a grey top stands at a podium on a large stage in a theatre full of people

And closing out this plenary session is Elissa Campbell on the very important topic of palliative care. We AHPs have a role here too! @ELDAC_agedcare #ANZSGM2025 Sorry for my wonky one handed pics y'all 😆

Madeleine in a grey top stands at a podium on a large stage in a theatre full of people

Next up is some myth busting about Down Syndrome with Madeleine Healy @MonashHealth! Did you know orthoptists can do functional visual assessments for people with Down Syndrome? They often do great with Kay Pics! #ANZSGM2025

Sue in a patterned top stands at a podium on a large stage in a busy theatre

Sue in a patterned top stands at a podium on a large stage in a busy theatre

Here's what Susan had to say about visual difficulties in dementia! Reading & contrast vision issues are not uncommon and she mentions depth perception issues too. In my little sample I found 2/3 had reduced depth perception, 1/5 reduced enough to ⬆️ falls risk #ANZSGM2025

Susan has touched on a variety of topics and we have some more name-checks of great dementia researchers including Sandra Iuliano's work on dairy intake to reduce falls risk! #ANZSGM2025

Sue in a patterned top stands at a podium with slides on a large stage in a theatre full of people

We start Day Two of #ANZSGM2025 with another round of Prof Susan Kurrle AO! Today's case example includes vision impairment as a common co-morbidity of dementia. A reminder about our eye test resources! dementia-org.libguides.com/eye-health-a...

I just wanted to highlight the availability of free interpreting services for private AHPs in 32 LGAs as part of a pilot program until next year: www.health.gov.au/our-work/fre... #ANZSGM2025

This breakfast session has left me quite thoughtful, just listening to geriatricians talking about the 'musical chairs' routine of seeing someone with dementia and their care partner separately as well as together. This doesn't necessarily happen in other specialties #ANZSGM2025

Here's Prof Lee-Fay Low presenting to a room full of geriatricians about variations in perceptions of dementia across cultural communities. This is the Facing Dementia Together project #ANZSGM2025

You got this! 💪 Then you have to flip everyone off with free abandon so you can then write the book 😂

Oh I love this, I've gotta listen when I have a chance!

Oliver in a dark suit stands at the podium on a large stage with slides in a full theatre

And the last talk of the day is from Oliver Menzies @HNZTeTokaTumai all about inpatient care for older Maori. #ANZSGM2025

Rhiann highlights issues with availability of allied health and specialty services such as ophthalmology in the Torres Strait. Dina offers a service in VAHS half a day a month but it took 2 years to build up the relationship and trust so people started attending! #ANZSGM2025

Delighted to be presenting the ESO guideline on aphasia rehabilitation today at #NAC2025 in Uppsala. Panel discussion to follow. Looking forward to considering how we can implement the guidelines in clinical practice across Europe and beyond. @esostroke.bsky.social #LetsTalkAphasia

Dina in a patterned top and Rhiann in a light blue blazer stand at the podium on Large stage in a theatre full of people

Dina LoGiudice and Rhiann Suu See share some fantastic research about dementia risk factors in the Torres Strait and other community-led projects #ANZSGM2025

Joan in a dark top stands at the podium on a large stage in a theatre full of people

Stellar talk from Joan O'Donnell @notredame about driving and dementia - early and regular conversations about driving are important, just like we found in our research with optometrists! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35914742/ #ANZSGM2025

Renuka in a dark suit stands at a podium with slides on a large stage in a theatre in a room full of people.

Prof Renuka Visvanathan is now sharing many clinical pearls on all things nutrition! Different strokes for different folks is a key message along with the importance of oral health care! #ANZSGM2025