New dementia study aims to tell the inside story

A STUDY which is looking to address the needs of dementia sufferers and their carers is to be carried out in the West Midlands.

Staffordshire University have been awarded a £33,000 British Medical Association grant to study the benefits for people living with a dementia and their carers in producing a narrative or therapeutic story of their experiences.

It will be carried out by the University’s Centre for Ageing and Mental Health following a successful bid for funding by Professors Susan Benbow and Paul Kingston.

Against stiff competition the two professors received the 2009 Dawkins and Strutt award, which is dedicated to assisting research into the prevention, treatment and management of dementia.

The 18 month project is being carried out in partnership with Approach, a Stoke-on-Trent based organisation, which provides innovative specialised services for people with mental health challenges in later life and their families. 

Professor Benbow said: “It’s about getting people to open up about their journey with dementia. People may choose to write their story or they can opt to be interviewed for audio or videotapes which will then be transcribed and presented back to them.”

Susan said the narratives of 20 service users and 20 carers would then be analysed for common themes in the hope of identifying small actions which could make big difference

She added: “It could be practical things that need action or emotional support but to those individuals, learning from this process may identify services that aren’t being addressed by those involved in their wellbeing.”

 “Research on using talking treatments in dementia tends to be neglected by funding agencies, so we are very excited to be able to carry out this project.”

Professor Kingston suggested that: “This important research grant will add to our knowledge of the lived experience and impact on the lives of people with dementia and their carers.”

Will Boyce, Chief Officer of Approach said: “We are pleased to build on our partnership with the University and our previous work which involved services users and carers teaching people on an MSc course.”