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‘Hic sunt dracones!’ How to navigate the controversies within Multi-Species Dementia Studies
Introduction Generally speaking, the field of dementia studies is not one to shy away from difficult topics. Sensitive and emotive issues, including elder abuse, sexuality, and death & dying have all been interrogated within applied dementia research, leading to important insights as well as practical interventions. When it comes to exploring dementia’s relationship with other…
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Moving Kinship with the More-than-Human
By Dr. Beatrice Allegranti Dr Allegranti is Reader in Dance Movement Psychotherapy and Choreography at the University of Roehampton, London. Moving Kinship, a form of embodied activism involving people living with rare young onset dementia, family carers and Beatrice Allegranti Dance Theatre[i]. Social, psychological and political issues of equality, autonomy, dignity, social inclusion and solidarity…
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What cats have taught me.
By Lorena Sordo Lorena Sordo is a PhD Candidate at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh. Animals have become a crucial part of our lives and important members of our families. The benefits they bring to our lives are undeniable; they improve our health and well-being, they make us more active,…
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Mr Pink: A vignette on labour and love within interspecies care relations in later life
In this 7 minute video, Professor Louise Locock from the University of Aberdeen discusses connections between love, labour, vulnerability and biographical disruption within interspecies relations of caring in later life. A transcript of the discussion is provided below. Transcript A vignette on love, labour, vulnerability and biographical disruption within interspecies care in later life. Hi,…
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The Dementia Dog Project
By Dr Louise Ritchie Dr Louise Ritchie is a Reader in Dementia Research in the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at UWS. By Dr Louise Ritchie Most people within the dementia research community in Scotland will have heard of the Dementia Dog Project, they are welcomed at conferences and the dogs are often…
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Making Horses Accessible: Research and Reflections on the Riding in the Moment Program
By: Rebecca Lassell Ph.D. Candidate, OTR/L Rebecca (Becca) Lassell is a Ph.D. Candidate in Occupation and Rehabilitation Science in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. During my first year of PhD school, I was offered an opportunity. The opportunity involved assisting in my colleague’s dissertation study of a…
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Story Telling – people with dementia, relationships and animals.
By: Dr Karen Harrison Dening. Dr Karen Harrison Dening is Head of Research & Publications at Dementia UK. She is also Honorary Assistant Professor, School of Health & Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Honorary Professor of Dementia Care Research, De Montfort University and Honorary Research Fellow, Health Services Research Department, University of Liverpool. A significant aspect of the work of…
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Opal my Teacher: How Lessons I Learned From my Dog Inform my Research Practice.
By Dr. Holly McKenzie. Dr. Holly McKenzie is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan. Towards the end of my PhD, I met one of my best teachers – Opal. In April 2017, my partner and I brought home a black Great Dane puppy named Opal whom a…
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Insights Series (4): My home, my garden story: interspecies relationships in the gardens of people living with dementia
By Dr Christina Buse and Dr Sarah Noone In the My Home, My Garden Story pilot study we have been exploring the role of gardens in the everyday lives of people with dementia who are living at home. We are interested in why gardens are important to people with dementia and their families, and their…
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Insights Series (3): ‘Paws for Dementia’ Dog Walking Group
By Dr Sarah Campbell, Professor Andrew Clark and Cathy Riley. This blog reflects on our experience of undertaking an evaluation of a dementia dog walking group which formed part of our research study exploring neighbourhoods and dementia. Writing this piece now, during the time of the Corona Pandemic, it is upsetting to imagine the impact…