Episode 6 - Toni Simpson - A Lifelong Advocate for Dementia Care – Toni’s Story

With over 40 years in nursing, Toni has dedicated her career to improving care for older adults and people living with dementia. As the first Nurse Practitioner in Aged Care and Delirium within the acute hospital system, she pioneered new ways to support some of the most vulnerable patients. From community health to palliative care, Toni’s experience is vast, but her passion remains the same—ensuring that patients are always at the centre of care. After leaving Queensland Health in 2021, she took on a new challenge as an NDIS Support Worker, focusing on younger-onset dementia. Even in retirement, her advocacy hasn’t stopped. She’s a consumer representative on an End-of-Life Care working group and a founding committee member of the upcoming Death Expo in 2025. In this episode, we explore Toni’s career, her research into patient-centred care, and how she continues to push for change in dementia care and end-of-life conversations. What has she learned about the health system, and where does she see the future of aged care heading? Tune in to hear her insights, stories, and the lessons that have shaped her journey. If you or an Registered Nurse has as story to tell, make contact with Wendy at  www.healthoptionsnow.org