Life through a lens

For some time now we have been involved with a dementia research project funded by the Alzheimer's Society and led by researchers at the University of Stirling. The project is looking at non-drug ways of supporting people with learning disabilities and dementia to continue to have good lives.

There is very little research on what supports and activities can help people with learning disabilities and dementia, so this work is really important and among the first of its kind.

A number of organisations are invovled with the project including Hansel, Playlist for Life, East Ayrshire Council and the University of the West of Scotland and together we form an advisory panel to help the research team.

There are also some co-researchers involved who have been helping with collecting data through a participative research method called 'Photovoice'. We are delighted that some of the people we support have been a huge part of the project as co-researchers, as well as on the advisory panel helping to steer its work and research participants who have received some of the tailored supports.

The project is entering its final phase now and although the lead researcher is about to move on to pastures new (we said a fond farewell today), there is still plenty of work to do to make sure people know about the findings and some of the things we can do to support people with learning disabilities and dementia well.

You can find out more about 'Life through a lens' here