First Annual Trainees Research Webinar
As a very young network, we will have a lot of ‘firsts’. But for this first we hope to make many more in years to come!
The ACP-UK Network of Ageing held its first annual webinar on the 6th September 2021, where our future colleagues shared their final year research in the area of ageing. Four colleagues from three different universities shared their varied research, not only in topics but also methodology.
- Jonathan O’Keeffe (Trent DClinPsy Programme) shared a methodology that a lot of the people attending were not familiar with: A Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design. He used this approach to evaluate ACT with older adults, and all during the COVID period.
Two colleagues from the University of Edinburgh presented their literature reviews.
- Caragh Maher raised the usefulness of dementia screening tools for people who are illiterate. As routine tools can underestimate abilities in people who are illiterate, caution needs to be exercised and alternatives considered.
- Kirsty Killick reviewed the experiences and dementia care needs of LGBTQ+ people affected by dementia. This group of people continues to grow and their need and concerns pose particular challenges for the care providers, so that they provide true person-centred care.
- And in a year where a lot of trainees’ research has been impacted by the pandemic, Millie Presman (University of East London) took this opportunity to investigate the impact of social contact, coping strategies, and social cognition on loneliness and psychological distress in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While older adults seemed to have been resilient during the pandemic, the need for social contact, especially for people who were living with someone, was noted. People living on their own seemed to have adjusted to the lockdown and being on their own.
With loneliness being even further accentuated in these last 18 months, the network will work to explore this further. If you are interested in thinking along, do contact us and join in. Contact us: [email protected]
