Tagged / ADRC

Bridging the Digital Divide: How Older Adults Navigate a Digital Society

On 7th May 2025, we hosted an event focused on the theme “Ageing in a Digital World”. Attendees were local older adults, stakeholders including staff from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, and academic researchers from the ADRC. During the event attendees explored the research project photo exhibition    before taking part in round table discussions on the topic.

 

The photo exhibition featured a series of photographs and quotes from older adults to showcase how technology is reshaping the lives, identities, and social connections of older generations. Whilst the round table discussions provided an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the exhibition and tackled critical questions focused on digital inclusion for older adults. Together with the research findings, the responses will contribute to a toolkit focused on digital inclusion of older adults.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and supported this event. If you missed the photo exhibition don’t worry you can still catch it at Kinson Library from 26th May to 21st June 2025.
For more information, please see the project webpage http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/ageing-dementia-research-centre/adrc-research-participation-group or contact Dr Michelle Heward mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk
This project is funded by the British Society of Gerontology (BSG) Averil Osborn Award for Participatory Research. The views expressed and discussed may not represent the views of the BSG.

ADRC launches new DEALTS2 train-the-trainer video series

Researchers at Bournemouth University have launched a new video-based dementia training series designed to support anyone wishing to use the Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2 (DEALTS2) training materials in their own dementia training.

DEALTS2 is a simulation-based dementia toolkit to support the delivery of dementia education across health and social care. The Ageing & Dementia Research Centre were commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) (now NHS England) to develop the DEALTS2 resources, including the video series designed with five videos focused on:
1. Overview of the DEALTS2 programme
2. Risk reduction and prevention module
3. Person centred-care module
4. Communication and interaction module
5. How to evaluate sessions and ideas for ongoing support staff after the training
There are several simulation activities that form part of the DEALTS2 training. The video series is designed to enable those who deliver dementia training to see how these simulations work so that they can decide if they would like to use them in their own training.
To access the DEALTS2 train-the-trainer video series, you will need to complete this form.
DEALTS2 Training Toolkits
The video series is designed to be used alongside the DEALTS2 toolkits (i) DEALTS2 for face-to-face delivery and (ii) e-DEALTS2 for online delivery. The DEALTS2 Toolkits are free to download, use and adapt.
To access the toolkits please visit:
|https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/dementia-education-learning-through-simulation-2-dealts2-programme
For more information, please contact Dr Michelle Heward mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk

ADRC launches new DEALTS2 train-the-trainer video series

Researchers at Bournemouth University have launched a new video-based dementia training series designed to support anyone wishing to use the Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2 (DEALTS2) training materials in their own dementia training.

DEALTS2 is a simulation-based dementia toolkit to support the delivery of dementia education across health and social care. The Ageing & Dementia Research Centre were commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) (now NHS England) to develop the DEALTS2 resources, including the video series designed with five videos focused on:
1. Overview of the DEALTS2 programme
2. Risk reduction and prevention module
3. Person centred-care module
4. Communication and interaction module
5. How to evaluate sessions and ideas for ongoing support staff after the training
There are several simulation activities that form part of the DEALTS2 training. The video series is designed to enable those who deliver dementia training to see how these simulations work so that they can decide if they would like to use them in their own training.
To access the DEALTS2 train-the-trainer video series, you will need to complete this form.
DEALTS2 Training Toolkits
The video series is designed to be used alongside the DEALTS2 toolkits (i) DEALTS2 for face-to-face delivery and (ii) e-DEALTS2 for online delivery. The DEALTS2 Toolkits are free to download, use and adapt.
To access the toolkits please visit:https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/dementia-education-learning-through-simulation-2-dealts2-programme
For more information, please contact Dr Michelle Heward mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk

Insight Dementia educational resource: now available!

We are delighted to share with you the new Insight Dementia resource.

Developed in collaboration with students, staff, healthcare professionals, carers and individuals living with dementia, this resource has been designed as an educational tool for hospital staff and is full of useful information, advice and exercises to aid reflection and learning on how to best care for people living with dementia.

View the new resource:
The resource is designed to be used with the Insight Dementia virtual reality film. Further information on the resource and this work, alongside the link for the film, can be found on our project page: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/insight-dementia
Huge thanks to all involved in the creation of these materials, including Tracey Webb and Jakob Rossner in the filming of the VR film, as well as Caroline Hemmings (Creative Design and and Administrative Support Officer) for her support and creativity in putting the content together.

SERVED research project: Supporting Evidence-based Research for Veterans Experiencing Dementia

SERVED research project: Supporting Evidence-based Research for Veterans Experiencing Dementia

Dementia is a condition which is increasing amongst the general population, and furthermore, military veterans may experience increased exposure to risk factors for developing dementia, including military-related trauma, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite growing dementia prevalence, significant barriers remain to accessing specialised care meeting veterans’ needs.

Findings from our initial research work last year highlighted struggles with navigating healthcare systems, specialised care and the importance of veteran-specific support. However, an even greater finding was the difficulty accessing veterans with dementia.
We are delighted to now continue this work, funded by Dementia Research UK, exploring potential barriers and enablers to seeking support for dementia or memory-related concerns in the veteran community.
The research will involve two different parts: an online survey and focus groups. Participation is open to all veterans who have previously served at least one day in the military. We would then like to co-create an short animation to demonstrate the feedback we have received and continue to raise awareness for the voices of veterans.
For more information or to find out how to take part in the research, please visit our project page: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/served
Sharing of this work with friends, colleagues or contacts who you think may be interested is warmly welcomed! Postcards and other imagery is available, please contact Becky Dew at rdew@bournemouth.ac.uk

Alzheimer’s Awareness Week – join us in BGB on Tuesday 20th May

Join us in learning more about Alzheimer’s and Dementia!

As part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Week, we are excited to invite you to our event on Tuesday 20th May at Bournemouth Gateway Building (BG115/116), hosted by the ADRC, including a variety of sessions open to public, staff and students all around dementia awareness and current research.
We will be holding various dementia-related sessions and talks between 11:00-14:00 open to all, including research on VR and dementia, working with the veteran community and the Time for Dementia programme.
Following this, we are delighted to host our Insight Dementia resource launch event at 15:00-16:30 (further information available via calendar invite). This resource has been designed as an educational tool for hospital staff and can be used alongside our Insight Dementia virtual reality film to maximise learning opportunities. We will also be demonstrating the Insight Dementia virtual reality film in this session, so we warmly welcome you to come and view via the VR headset for a fully immersive experience.
Please do feel free to share details of this event or forward to any relevant contacts you have and let us know if you are available to join us!
Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025
Time: 11-2pm and 15:00-16:30
Location: Bournemouth Gateway Building, Room BG115/116
This free event is open to staff and students to attend. If you are planning to attend the Insight Dementia session later in the afternoon, please book a free ticket on our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1355078198369
For more information, please contact Becky Dew rdew@bournemouth.ac.uk

Photo exhibition happening now at Talbot Campus – Ageing in a digital world

The photo exhibtion currently running in the Atrium Gallery space at Talbot Campus showcases the benefits and hurdles of ageing in a digital world from the stories of older adults.

This research project uses a method called Photovoice to capture images and stories on this topic
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/perceptions-ageing-digital-world Photo exhibition – Ageing in a digital world

The project is co-created by academic researchers and local older adults, who are co-researchers and members of the ADRC Research Participation Group, after discussing the challenges they face with the digitalisation of society www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/ageing-dementia-research-centre/adrc-research-participation-group

The exhibition is on until 8th May.

 

For more information please contact Michelle mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk

Research seminar and tech showcase 12.02.25: ICONIC (Intergenerational Co-design Of Novel technologies In Coastal communities) project

Fusion, innovation, PG research, Research themes

The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre are welcoming colleagues from Plymouth University to talk about the ICONIC project (see more details below) and showcase some of the technologies they have created.

 The team are interested in talking to any BU colleagues who work on co-design/digital health or immersive technologies and AI so please do come along (and let Michelle mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk know if would like to give a short presentation about your research).

 12th February 2025

11-1pm (presentations will be first and then tech showcase)

P222, Poole House, Talbot Campus

ICONIC Project

The ICONIC (Intergenerational Co-design Of Novel technologies In Coastal communities) project is exploring how co-design of novel technologies can support digital inclusion in Cornwall and Devon. The project recruited 99 participants to join intergenerational co-design workshops to create technologies that support access to environment, heritage, and community resources. The technologies include a social game, immersive heritage and underwater experiences, and a voice AI system accessed via a telephone call. The research team will be sharing their insights from the co-design process for each technology and discuss the effects of participation on digital inclusion.

  • Dr Rory Baxter is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Technology, University of Plymouth, working on the EPSRC funded Intergenerational Codesign Of Novel technologies In Coastal communities (ICONIC) project to address digital exclusion in Cornwall and Devon. The project involves the intergenerational co-design of technologies for supporting access to heritage, environment, and community resources. His previous work includes the ESRC funded GOALD and ERDF funded EPIC projects, which focused on digital health innovation co-design and evaluation to support healthy ageing. Prior to that he completed an EPSRC funded iCASE PhD, exploring human navigation and search behaviour, during which Rory developed VR-based experimental tasks using Unity, which were adapted for online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Dr Oksana Hagen earned a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NCTU (Taiwan), MSc in Computer Vision and Robotics through the Erasmus Mundus ViBOT program, and a PhD in Computing at the University of Plymouth. After a brief period in industry, Oksana joined Aldebaran AI Lab (France) under a Marie Curie Fellowship to focus on research in machine learning. She subsequently contributed to social robotics research for AgeIn project at the University of Plymouth. Currently, she is part of the ICONIC project, developing VoiceAI and underwater telepresence applications through co-design. Her research interests include machine learning, robotics and HCI.
  • Dr Marius Varga’s expertise sits at the intersection of game technology and user experience, with a focus on serious games and immersive experiences. Currently, a Research Fellow part of the ICONIC project, using a co-design approach, Marius leads the development of a multiplayer Social Game focused on seagrass conservation and for Extended Reality (XR), he is developing an immersive heritage experience in partnership with National Trust. Marius is also involved in digital health projects such part of Bridging project – focused on using XR training with autistic employees and employers and Glider project – addressing challenges in frailty through robotics, play and immersive technology.
  • Dr Linan Zhang holds an MA in East Asian Studies (Japanese) and an MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. She later earned a PhD with Transtechnology Research at the University of Plymouth, where she developed a philosophical framework to ease the paradigm conflicts in knowledge sharing, drawing inspiration from an international health collaboration, a global health crisis, and the development discourse. She is currently an Associate Lecturer for i-DAT, a Research Fellow in Orbital Science, and the Media and Admin officer for the ICONIC Project at the University of Plymouth. Additionally, she serves as an Associate Editor for Leonardo Review.

Digital dementia care: How social media is shaping experiences of dementia

We’re thrilled to invite you to the second online seminar in the new ADRC series. This session will feature Dr. Catherine Talbot from Bournemouth University, presenting: Digital dementia care: How social media is shaping experiences of dementia.

With a rapidly growing population of people affected by dementia and increasing global emphasis being placed on early and timely diagnosis, it is vital to explore creative ways of supporting those affected. Social media has potential to mitigate some of the challenges associated with dementia, by facilitating social connectivity and access to information. Despite these possibilities, research in this area is scarce, and social media platforms are not designed with the specific needs of people with dementia or their carers in mind. In this talk, Dr Catherine Talbot will present the findings from her British Academy funded research, which aimed to explore the attitudes of people with dementia and their carers towards engaging with social media. She will also discuss how educational and technological initiatives can empower people with dementia to use social media safely and effectively.

The seminar is open to all Bournemouth University staff, students, community organisations, and anyone interested in the topic.
Please keep an eye out for upcoming seminars throughout 2025!
See you there!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://bournemouth-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/88106186753?pwd=G65UYAra4oQjjNN76HauXxsBmI0oib.1
Meeting ID: 881 0618 6753
Passcode: $30@u6Af

Successful first session in the ADRC seminar series

We were thrilled to host the first of our new ADRC seminar series last Wednesday and welcomed a range of attendees including academics, practitioners, students and community members.

Dr Michele Board begun the seminar by outlining the project and subject area, its aims and key findings for risk factors for dementia in military veterans. Following this, Rebecca Dew presented the collaborative literature review being carried out by the project team, which also was a great opportunity to hear valuable contributions from project team members. We were then pleased to present the project work undertaken with veterans living dementia and their carers during our creative workshops series which aimed to explore the research priorities for veterans living with dementia. During the seminar session, our documentary film was also presented, and we were thrilled to take part in engaging discussion with attendees around current research for veterans living with dementia, next steps for our upcoming work and the session finished with a thought-provoking Q&A section.
We look forward to welcoming both new and previous attendees to our next session on Wednesday 29th January 3-4pm!

ADRC Launches Online Seminar Series

We’re thrilled to invite you to the first online seminar in the new ADRC series on Wednesday, December 4th, from 3-4pm. This session will feature Dr. Michele Board from Bournemouth University, presenting on the topic: Veterans and Dementia: A Collaborative Research Project.

The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) at Bournemouth University, with funding from Dementia Research UK, launched a 2023/4 project focused on ex-military veterans—a typically underserved group in dementia research. The project explores veterans’ experiences through collaborative creative workshops, culminating in a documentary-style short film that amplifies their voices and personal stories. During this seminar we will share our film, highlight implications for practice and discuss the next stages of our project.

The seminar is open to all Bournemouth University staff, students, community organisations, and anyone interested in the topic.
Please keep an eye out for upcoming seminars throughout the new year!

Key Details:
• Date: Wednesday 4 December 2024
• Time: 3-4pm
• Topic: Veterans and Dementia: A Collaborative Research Project
• Speaker: Dr. Michele Board, Associate Professor Nursing Older People and Co-Lead Ageing and Dementia Research Centre ADRC
See you there!

Microsoft Teams 
Scan the QR code below or click on this link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZGI0NjE1YTUtNTIzYy00NTljLTk2OTEtYWZiNTc1ZmRjYzUy%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ede29655-d097-42e4-bbb5-f38d427fbfb8%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22612fce03-de45-44e3-b1e6-8404efc1b742%22%7d
Meeting ID: 364 666 916 013
Passcode: wJyC7U

ADRC attend the ‘On Track’ event at the Bovington Tank Museum

Assoc Prof Dr Michele Board and Rebecca Dew were delighted to attend the “On Track” event at the Bovington Tank Museum at the start of October to present their team’s latest work with veterans living with dementia which was funded by Dementia Research UK.

Following three inspiring talks during the morning session given by ex-military personnel around resilience and mental health, Assoc Prof Michele Board was pleased to introduce and share the documentary film Veterans Living with Dementia, which demonstrates their team’s latest work with veterans living with dementia and exploring their experiences. More information on the project, as well as the film link, can be accessed via the project page on following link: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/creative-workshops-veterans-dementia Please note the documentary film is approximately 10mins long.
Following the presentation, both Michele and Becky represented the ADRC during the lunchtime stalls and had many interesting conversations about the project and people’s experiences of being in the military, living with dementia or knowing someone with dementia, as well as raising awareness for this important subject and work amongst other participating organisations and charities.
Working with Dementia Research UK, the team hopes to continue disseminating the film and building on this initial work and to raise awareness for this subject.
Research project team: Dr Michele Board, Rebecca Dew, Helen Aldridge, Ryan Muldoon, Emma Lucas, Emma Hall, Vikki Tweedy
Documentary creation and editing: Dr Brad Gyori and Benjamin Obojememe