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Dr Rasa Mikelytė
Name:
Dr Rasa Mikelytė
Job Title:
NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent, and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Kent, Surrey & Sussex
Area of Research:
My research spans dementia care and policy, integrated care, adult social care, and palliative/end-of-life care. Currently, I hold a post-doctoral dementia research fellowship with the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey & Sussex, which focuses on integrated dementia care and seamless patient journeys. I also lead a project creating an interactive online toolkit for Hospice at Home care. Other dementia-related projects I am involved in include co-designing a social care outcomes toolkit with older people, primarily those living with dementia, and exploring what a ‘good’ death means to people living in dementia in the UK and in Brazil.
How is your research funded:
National Institute for Health and Care Research
Tell us a little about yourself:
I grew up on a small farm in rural Lithuania, and came to the UK at the age of 18 for university. Looks like one substantial move was enough for me! Since, I have lived and worked within a 6 mile radius in East Kent. When I am not working… I bake and feed colleagues my experimental cakes! Frozen pea cake with lemon cream anyone? Sounds strange but it actually works! I also volunteer, watch cat videos, go on walks with audio books and deeply value time with friends.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I co-parented four squabs (baby pigeons) this year and don’t intend to stop. Two broods so far!
Why did you choose to work in dementia research?
I first chose to work in dementia during my university years, initially as a means to support myself financially. These experiences sparked a genuine interest in dementia work. Over the years, I’ve taken on and enjoyed various roles, such as assistant psychologist in a memory clinic, spent 14 years as a dementia care home worker, and provided live-in dementia care. Simultaneously, I have been involved dementia research, feeling that dementia care work has made me a better researcher and vice versa. It has also made me better able to support family members who have lived with dementia. As well as being a dementia researcher, I currently also serve as a trustee for Bright Shadow, a dementia arts charity. Whether in research, care work, or charity activities, I consistently find interactions with people living with dementia to be uniquely rewarding.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
What my line manager said to me: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint”. Say ‘no’, don’t burn out, other opportunities will come your way even if you turn some down.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
The New Life by Tom Crewe… 7.5 out of 10
Dementia Researcher
NIHR
