East Midlands Dementia Care Research Symposium

Dr David Maidment, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Loughborough University delivers his presentation titled "Research on hearing loss, associated noncommunicable disease and modifiable behaviours" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

In this enlightening session, Dr Maidment explores the complex relationship between hearing loss, chronic health issues, and lifestyle, advocating for a holistic, person-centred approach to healthcare. Learn how hearing healthcare professionals can play a pivotal role in promoting healthy behaviours and discover the latest research on integrating general health conversations into clinical settings to support adults with hearing loss.

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David’s research interests focus on interventions that aim to improve physical health and psychological wellbeing in adults with long-term conditions and disabilities. He is currently module leader for several undergraduate modules, including Cognitive Psychology and Advanced Experimental Design and Analysis, is the Lead Academic Tutor for Psychology, and Butler Court Hall Warden.

David studied within the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, graduating in 2008 with a BSc in Applied Psychology. As part of his undergraduate degree, he completed a one-year professional placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL Institute of Child Health. David then went on to complete an MSc (2009) and PhD (2013) at Cardiff. His PhD, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council, explored how different modes of speech interact in verbal short-term memory.

David has also worked as a Research Associate (2012-15) at the MRC Institute of Hearing Research, and a Research Fellow (2015-18) within the Hearing Loss theme at the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre. David has been involved in the development and evaluation of digital interventions for hearing loss, underpinned by contemporary models of health behaviour change.

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/sport-exercise-health-sciences/people/david-maidment/
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Dr Esther Loseto-Gerritzen, NIHR and Alzheimer's Society Dem Comm Research Fellow in the School of Medicine at University of Nottingham delivers her presentation titled "Dementia Capacity Building / Dem Comm: Online Peer support for Young Onset Dementia" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Esther Loseto-Gerritzen discusses the significance of online peer support for individuals with young onset dementia, highlighting its benefits and potential barriers. She explains that peer support offers essential friendship, mutual understanding, and shared experiences uniquely suited to the needs of those impacted by early dementia, filling gaps left by traditional support services. While online options provide flexibility and accessibility, Esther notes challenges, including limited awareness, digital exclusion, and the need for broader quantitative research. Her work calls for improved signposting and resources to ensure more people benefit from this vital support.

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Esther Loseto-Gerritzen (PhD) is a research fellow at the Institute of Mental Health. She has a BSc in European Public Health and a MSc in Health Education and Promotion from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Esther completed her PhD at the University of Nottingham as part of DISTINCT, a European Union funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network focusing on dementia, social health and technology.

Esther's research focuses on post-diagnostic support for people with Young Onset Dementia (onset before the age of 65). The Social Health framework is the foundation throughout Esther's research. During her PhD she developed a Best Practice Guidance on online peer support for people with Young Onset Dementia. Esther is interested in psychosocial support and interventions for people with Young Onset Dementia and their families, and how technology can play a role in this.

Esther is also an active member of INTERDEM Academy and is one of the two first Junior Representatives in the INTERDEM Board. In this role Esther is co-leading an INTERDEM-wide webinar series and is working hard to involve more early-career researchers in INTERDEM Academy. Within INTERDEM, Esther is also co-lead of the Young Onset Dementia taskforce. Outside of INTERDEM, Esther is leading a Young Onset Dementia Special Interest Group as part of Dem-Comm, a NIHR and Alzheimer's Society funded program on building capacity in dementia research.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/people/esther.loseto-gerritzen1
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Orii McDermott, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Medicine at University of Nottingham delivers her presentation titled "Co-producing a Dementia Awareness Training platform for African and Caribbean older adults" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Orii McDermott presents on building culturally sensitive dementia support for Caribbean older adults. She highlights the community’s unique hesitations towards mainstream dementia services, often influenced by past negative experiences and cultural views on mental health. Through informal, respectful conversations within local Caribbean elder clubs and collaborating with co-researchers from the community, her work aims to create culturally relevant dementia support that meets specific needs, such as Caribbean foods and activities. This project underlines the importance of trust and long-term collaboration in addressing gaps in culturally appropriate dementia care.

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Orii McDermott is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham. She focuses on dementia psychosocial intervention research; including care home work, supporting people with young onset dementia, music therapy and music-based interventions.

She is the programme manager for H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "Dementia: Intersectorial Strategy for Training and Innovation Network for Current Technology" (DISTINCT).

She is a HCPC registered music therapist and continues to work as a clinician in Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

She is an Associate Editor for Nordic Journal of Music Therapy and serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Music Therapy, Music & Science and Aging & Mental Health.

She is a recipient of the ICA HEE/NIHR Clinical Academic Post-doctoral Bridging Programme Fellowship (East Midlands).

She co-facilitates the Centre for Dementia PPI group and is a member of School fo Medicine PPI Working Group.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/people/orii.mcdermott
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Neil Chadborn, NIHR & Alzheimer's Society Dem Comm Senior Research Fellow in the School of Medicine at University of Nottingham delivers his presentation titled "Culturally Appropriate Digital Dementia Resources for the South Asian Community" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Neil Chadborn shares insights into the Yaad project, a participatory initiative aimed at engaging South Asian communities in Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester. The project explores cultural memories and self-identity through creative workshops, touching on themes of childhood, migration, and both joyful and challenging experiences. These workshops foster intergenerational connection and acknowledge the role of memory in dementia. The project also introduces telepresence robots to help individuals at risk of isolation stay connected with family locally and abroad. This innovative approach highlights the potential of technology to support social connectedness in culturally meaningful ways.

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Neil Chadborn is senior research fellow in NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East Midlands. He is a public health researcher and gerontologist. Neil is developing research on supporting people with dementia in South Asian community, including use of digital resources (part funded by Alzheimer's Society).

His previous work includes digital records in care homes and dementia-friendly communities. Neil leads the Technology and Ageing Special Interest Group of British Society of Gerontology.

Previous research included study of local commissioning of third sector support for older people in the community. Drawing upon his recent Masters of Public Health, Neil focuses on inter-professional and inter-organisational aspects of integrated or coordinated care. He is also a strong advocate for involving patients and carers in service improvement, as well as exploring potential for service users to participate in research and evaluation. Neil's experience leading both qualitative and quantitative health research enables him to advise on suitable research or evaluation methods.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/people/neil.chadborn
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Karan Jutlla, Reader in Dementia Care and Inclusion at University of Wolverhampton delivers her presentation titled "Working with underserved communities" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Karan Jutlla offers an insightful exploration of cultural competence and inclusivity in dementia care, drawing from her extensive research and personal experiences. She underscores the importance of equity and person-centred care, highlighting that effective support requires understanding an individual’s cultural and personal history. Dr Jutlla also addresses the concept of intersectionality, noting that many individuals face multiple layers of discrimination. Her work advocates for advanced communication skills, culturally competent training, and collaboration with community groups to build a truly inclusive dementia care framework that respects and honours diverse backgrounds and unique needs.

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Dr Karan Jutlla, Reader in Dementia Care and Inclusion, is the Head of the Centre for Applied and Inclusive Health Research and Dementia Lead at the University of Wolverhampton. Her specialist role is designed to provide leadership for the development and delivery of dementia care curricula and research, promoting the development of a culturally competent healthcare workforce skilled in dementia care.

Karan graduated from the University of Salford in 2006 with a First Class Honours degree in Health Sciences. During her final year she conducted research for Dementia UK (then known as Fordementiaplus) exploring South Asian carers’ experiences of services in Wolverhampton when caring for a family member with dementia. This research led to her doctoral study at Keele University which explored how migration experiences impact upon caring for a person with dementia in the Sikh community in Wolverhampton. This biographical study highlighted challenges with access to, and experience of, health and social care services in the UK – with such experiences being strongly linked to their experiences as migrants in the UK.

In 2010, she became a Senior Lecturer in Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester developing bespoke dementia education programmes to support services to be culturally competent via a person-centred approach to dementia care. This work included working with one of the leading and largest social care organisations in the UK to support their service to become culturally inclusive and enable them to provide effective work in cross-cultural situations. In 2015, she joined the School of Nursing and Midwifery at De Montfort University in Leicester to further develop cultural competency training and dementia care in education and research. In 2016, she was appointed the Dementia Lead for the School of Nursing and Midwifery at De Montfort University which involved ensuring the nursing curriculum and research agenda are reflective of local and regional challenges in dementia care. In 2018, she worked with Compton Care as a Senior Research Associate on a project which investigated the views and experiences of the South Asian community in Wolverhampton when living with and caring for someone, with a complex and incurable condition. In 2019, she was appointed the Dementia Lead for the University of Wolverhampton. She joined the University of Wolverhampton in June 2019 as the Dementia Lead for the Institute of Health.

As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Karan has extensive experience of developing and delivering training and education programmes to support healthcare professionals and services to be culturally competent via a person-centred approach. Part of her education and training also involves understanding neurological impairment in dementia and how cognitive ability can be supported for such people. Karan is a strong believer that ‘dementia is not the death that leaves the body behind’ and that people with dementia can be supported to live well via creativity. Karan is also a professional dancer and is the co-founder of Eclectic Dancers. Her passion for dance and appreciation of the arts allows her to both combine and support creativity for improved mental health and wellbeing.

https://drjutlla.com/

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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Petra Pollux, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology Sport Science & Wellbeing at University of Lincoln delivers her presentation titled "The Cognitive Daisy (COG-D) for improving care for residents with dementia in care homes: A feasibility RCT" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Pollux shares insights into the innovative Cognitive Daisy, a tool designed to visualise and support personalised dementia care. This unique assessment visualises cognitive strengths and challenges, helping care staff better understand and respond to individual needs in real-time. Dr Pollux discusses the development, pilot studies, and the impact of the Cognitive Daisy in care homes, highlighting its potential to enhance communication, tailor support, and foster a more holistic approach to dementia care.

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After training as a youth welfare worker, Petra continued her studies at the University of Utrecht (NL) and completed her MA. Her PhD focused on executive functions and cognitive deficits in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Now her research interests are focused in two areas: Within applied Neuropsychology the Cognitive Daisy project is concerned with supporting Person-centred care for people with cognitive problems (NIHR funded '22-'24). Projects within the area of Socio-Cognitive Neuroscience focus on individual differences in processing of social cues.

https://www.cognitivedaisy.co.uk/team/dr-petra-m-j-pollux/
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
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Jackie Parkes, Professor in Applied Mental Health at University of Northampton and Peter Middleton, Patient and Public Involvement / Study Participant deliver their presentation titled "Defin-YD - Lived experience of young onset dementia" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Learn about the impactful Deaf in YD project, a network for individuals diagnosed with young-onset dementia to actively engage in research and public involvement. This initiative, originally created to enable peer-supported involvement in research, connects participants across England to share lived experiences, contribute to clinical and academic projects, and help shape future dementia support and awareness efforts. Through collaborative meetings, resource-sharing, and an emphasis on sustaining community connections, Deaf in YD is empowering voices within the dementia community to make lasting contributions.
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Jackie is an experienced mental health nurse and has worked in a broad range of mental health and learning disability settings prior to moving into Higher Education. She is the Lead of the Northamptonshire Dementia Research & Innovation Centre at UON and lead for Public and Patient Involvement. Her subject specialisms are nursing and mental health research, with a particular focus on developing and implementing person-centred care pathways. She works extensively with local organisations to evaluate their provision of health and social care services, including community-based interventions for people living with dementia. She is the Chair of the Northamptonshire Dementia Action Forum and is a member of the Leicestershire Dementia Action Alliance.

Jackie has also established four community-based social groups for people with dementia; the Forget-me-nots Social YOD Group, Qualified by Experience (QBE) for former carers, and the Post-diagnostic Support UnityDEM Centre in Northamptonshire and the Lutterworth Share & Care Group for people with dementia and their carers in South Leicestershire. She has a particular interest in young onset dementia and has been a lead on the Alzheimer’s Society Angela Project (2016-19) looking at diagnostic accuracy and post-diagnostic support for young people with dementia; and is currently the Deputy Chair of Research at Young Dementia Network. She is also a member of the pan European Group InterDEM.

https://www.northampton.ac.uk/directories/people/jacqueline-parkes/

About Peter (in his own words) - There's nothing special about me, but it might help to know a little bit about my background.

I was born in 1954 and grew up in Clapham, South London. I married Pam in 1975 and joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1976, spending the next 18 years working at home and abroad as an aircraft technician. I moved to Northampton on leaving the RAF and studied for an HND in Business Information Systems, which opened the door to a later career as a technical author and Senior Consultant in Information Systems. For the last 10 years before my retirement, I worked as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in the Kingsthorpe and St David's area of Northampton.

I have 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren, I have a measured IQ of 153 and was a member of MENSA for over 20 years. I am an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic. I have Alzheimer's disease - I am living with dementia... Peter writes about his experiences of living with dementia in an amazing blog at : https://www.livingwithdementia.online/
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

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Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
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Dr Chris Matthews, Senior Lecturer, School of Science & Technology at Nottingham Trent University delivers his presentation titled "Emotions as Method: Brutal Lessons from Studying Dementia" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

In this compelling talk, Dr Chris Matthews explores the role of emotion as a central method in dementia research, particularly in studying former professional footballers and their carers. Reflecting on his own experience with sports-related cognitive challenges, Dr Matthews discusses the deep emotional engagement involved in both conducting research and supporting participants. He argues that emotions aren’t just by-products of research but essential tools for meaningful connection and insight. This approach, he suggests, fosters trust and captures the true lived experiences of participants, offering a richer, more human perspective on dementia care.

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Dr Matthews teaches on various courses related to sport science where he focuses on the sociology of sport, qualitative research, critical studies of gender, social theory as it relates to sport, health and physical activity. He is actively research a variety of topics including concussion, men’s power, sports violence, drug use and physical activity.

Prior to joining NTU, Dr Matthews was a senior lecturer and course leader at the University of Brighton. He completed his PhD under the supervision of Professor Joseph Maguire at Loughborough University. He conducted post-doctoral research exploring men’s health with Professor Brendan Gough.

https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/christopher-matthews
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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

--
Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
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Dr Chris Knifton, Associate Professor in Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental Care and Admiral Nurse at De Montfort University delivers his presentation titled "Improving Accessibility of Training for Carers and Dementia in Childhood / Childhood Dementias" at the @NIHRtv ARC East Midlands "Dementia Care Research Symposium: Supporting Underserved Communities".

Dr Chris Knifton shares perspectives on supporting neurodivergent carers and opening discussions around childhood dementia. Drawing on personal and professional insights, he raises essential questions about how accessible dementia information truly is for neurodivergent carers and advocates for adjustments to better meet diverse learning needs. Additionally, he highlights the often-overlooked issue of childhood dementia, noting its unique challenges and the lack of adequate resources and support. Through upcoming initiatives, he aims to spark conversations and inspire collaborative efforts to bridge these gaps in dementia care and understanding.

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Chris Knifiton Current work (both research and teaching) is in the field of dementia. This includes not only basic awareness training, but also more advanced work on specific interventions, co-morbidities and care practices.

Chris's current doctoral work is on the sociology of dementia. Chris also teaches mental health problems experienced by people with a learning disability, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment options and care management.

A final area of interest is on diversity, where Chris teaches equality and diversity legislation and practice.

https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/academic-staff/health-and-life-sciences/chris-knifton/chris-knifton.aspx

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For more information on the NIHR ARC East Midlands visit:
https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/

--
Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
--

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
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