Tagged / ADRC

A tool to identify the risk of malnutrition in older people

Research validating a tool to identify the risk of malnutrition, in older people, is among the top 10% most downloaded papers in 2018-19, published in Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics!

The research was led by Prof Jane Murphy, working in collaboration with the Wessex Academic Health Science Network and The Patients Association.

Identifying older people at risk of malnutrition and treatment in the community: prevalence and concurrent validation of the Patients Association Nutrition Checklist with ‘MUST’

Malnutrition is already a huge issue in the UK and current national policy for the Covid-19 crisis means that social isolation and loneliness in older people will significantly impact on food intake and in turn increase the risk of malnutrition. However in the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of the validated Patients Association Nutrition Checklist has increased given its simplicity,  ease of use and can be carried out remotely so that people can access appropriate help and support where needed.

For more details see:

https://wessexahsn.org.uk/projects/325/nutrition-in-older-people

https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources-and-tools/self-screening-pack

NEW RESOURCES for older people who are at risk of malnutrition during the Covid-19 pandemic

 

Working in collaboration with Malnutrition Task Force/Age UK and the Wessex AHSN, Prof Jane Murphy from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre has developed new resources for older people who are at risk of malnutrition whilst self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Resources can be accessed from the just launched Malnutrition Task Force/Age UK Coronovirus Information Hub  with helpful information resources and tools for anyone who supports older people.

See the Coronavirus Information

Hub and ow.ly/Yke650zmhse

for more information.

Wessex Brain Ageing and Dementia Research Meeting

Members from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre were invited to present at the Wessex Brain Ageing and Dementia Research meeting on 4th February, St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton. Hosted by IDeAC, NIHR CRN and ARC Wessex, the event showcased dementia research in Wessex, linking dementia researchers across Wessex and grow the network for clinical trials.

PGR Raysa ElZein presented a poster on research on dietary fat interventions in cognitive impairment and older people, Dr Michele Board on research using the ‘A Walk Through Dementia’ app, Dr Samuel Nyman presented his research on Tai Chi  (The TACIT Trial)  for people with dementia and Prof Jane Murphy gave an overview of the ADRC’s research and a workshop on PPI and dementia research with Dr Michelle Heward. It was a great opportunity to share research and grow opportunities to collaborate on projects across Wessex and cross disciplines with academics and stakeholders attending.

27th Managing Osteoporosis Conference – Prof Jane Murphy and Dr Susan Dewhurst

 

Both Dr Susan Dewhurst and Prof Jane Murphy from BU’s Ageing and Dementia Research Centre  were invited to speak at the 27th Managing Osteoporosis conference 2019 on 9-10th December 2019 at RBCH alongside a number of high profile speakers from across the UK.  There were over 200 delegates from across the South including consultants, nurses and other Allied Health Professionals.  Susan spoke about ‘Exercise for Fall Prevention: What Works?’, whilst Jane updated delegates on ‘Diet, Nutrition and Ageing’.

The talks garnered a lot of interest  with new insights for  bone health and managing osteoporosis and opportunities for collaboration.

 

 

Summary: Third Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) 21-22 November 2019

 

Stories to remember in Bournemouth

It has been wonderful to host the third transnational project meeting in Bournemouth bringing together the team from Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Romania, and the UK (pictured) to advance the Story2Remember ERASMUS+ project: Using drama and storytelling in dementia care.

Following an introduction from Professor Jan Wiener about the work of the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre at Bournemouth University, Andreea presented on activities and results from year one and talked the team through next steps for year two.

Intellectual Output 2: Story2Remember

Each team presented their results and outputs from delivering Story2Remember for both phase 1, delivering Story2Remember to people with dementia and phase 2, delivering the ToT training to professionals in the dementia field. The overall results across all the teams were extremely positive for both phase 1 and 2. Feedback will be used to finalise the Story2Remember handbook.

Intellectual Output 3: The Toolkit

Collaborative discussions brought about positive actions to set out our next steps for the toolkit and its layout and structure agreeing for both website, PDF and paper copy it should:

  • Focus on improving communication between carer and person with dementia
  • Be user friendly
  • Be easy to navigate and use
  • Be a supportive platform for carers

The key focus from now is to build the content for the toolkit with the aim of piloting to users in March 2020.

TPM3 was an extremely proactive and collaborative meeting with celebration on successful delivery of IO2 and tangible next steps agreed for IO3.

By Danielle Wyman (Research Assistant for ADRC, Bournemouth University).

 

Website: https://story2remember.eu/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/STORY2REMEMBER.EU/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Story2rememberE

Wheels in Motion! BU at the APP Food and Health Forum

Prof Jane Murphy (Ageing and Dementia Research Centre, ADRC) was invited to speak at the All Party Parliamentary Food and Health Forum (22nd October 2019) on the topic of malnutrition. Chaired by Sir David Amess MP, Jane spoke about nutrition related problems in older adults including people living with dementia, food and hydration problems in hospitals and tackling malnutrition more effectively across health and social care. She also shared research informed resources that help identify malnutrition including the ‘Nutrition Wheel’ and  the Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia guides for care staff and family carers and friends produced by the ADRC. BU PhD student Gladys Yinusa (supervised by Dr Janet Scammell, Prof Jane Murphy and Dietetic Manager Grainne Ford) attended the meeting. Jane raised awareness of her research on food and nutritional care at Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust.

Dr Trevor Smith, President of British Association for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) presented preliminary findings of the malnutrition screening survey as part of its work during Malnutrition Awareness Week 2019 14-20th October as well as Declan O’Brien, Director General, British Specialist Nutrition Association who spoke about the costs and health impacts of malnutrition.

There was much discussion and important concerns were raised by Eleanor Smith MP, Baroness Walmsley, Baroness Greengross as well as representatives from member organisations including the British Dietetic Association, Association for Nutrition and other attendees. MPs attending offered their help to take forward some of key issues discussed including the need for public health policy to recognise the nutritional needs of older people and effective malnutrition screening and treatment policy. Much to follow up on and real scope for impact.

The minutes will be available for public view on the APP Food and Health Forum webpage.

ADRC wins the Nutrition Resource of the Year at the 2019 Complete Nutrition Awards

The Nutrition Resource of the Year is made up of four resources called Nutrition and Dementia Care: A toolkit for health and care staff. The toolkit is to provide freely available resources to deliver person-centred nutritional care in the area of dementia. The toolkit has been used all over the UK and overseas, as far afield as Australia and is the WINNER of the 2019 CN Award for Nutrition Resource of the Year!

Both Professor Jane Murphy and Gill Hooper represented the team by attending the 2019 CN Award ceremony last Thursday 29th September in London.

In the photo: Gill Hooper (Research Assistant) and Professor Jane Murphy (Professor of Nutrition and Co-Director of ADRC)

The team that produced the toolkit includes Professor Jane Murphy, Gill Hooper (linked with the Greater Manchester Nutrition and Hydration programme), Dr Joanne Holmes and Caroline Jones.

 

In the photo: Caroline Jones, Dr Joanne Holmes and Professor Jane Murphy

 

 

 

 

 

 

The toolkit comprises:

  1. Eating and Drinking Well: Supporting People Living with Dementia workbook
  2. Eating and Drinking Well Training Video
  3. Eating and Drinking Well Nutrition leaflet
  4. Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia: A Guide for Care Staff

It is available to download for free on our specific ADRC training page, please visit: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/ageing-dementia-research-centre/eating-drinking-well-dementia-toolkit.

Just launched!

We have just launched our new Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia: A Guide for Family Carers and Friends which will be available to download from the ADRC training page soon.

 Please visit our training page and spread the word of our training resources.

 

 

The CN Awards* provide the chance for all readers, advertisers and contributors of CN
Magazines to come together to recognise the achievements of those whose great work
has made a significant difference within the nutrition industry – whether an individual,
group or organisation. For further information about the CN Awards, visit: nutrition2me.com/cn-awards

*The annual CN Awards were launched in 2010 by Complete Media & Marketing Ltd. (CM2) – the publishers of Complete Nutrition (CN)
Magazines. CM2 do not endorse any particular individual’s, group’s, organisation’s or company’s products, services, resources, views or
opinions. For further details on the CN Awards, visit: nutrition2me.com/cn-awards

WINNER of the 2019 CN Award for Nutrition Resource of the Year

The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre is proud to announce that we are the winner of the 2019 Complete Nutrition Award for Resource of the Year.

This is for the Nutrition and Dementia Care: A toolkit for health and care staff. This is made up of four resources:
1) Eating and Drinking Well: Supporting People Living with Dementia workbook
2) Eating and Drinking Well Training Video
3) Eating and Drinking Well Nutritional leaflet
and the
4) Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia: A Guide for Care Staff
The toolkit is available to download for free on our specific ADRC training page, please visit: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/ageing-dementia-research-centre/eating-drinking-well-dementia-toolkit
From this work we have developed an Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia: A Guide for Family Carers and Friends which will be launched this month.

 

The CN Awards* provide the chance for all readers, advertisers and contributors of CN
Magazines to come together to recognise the achievements of those whose great work
has made a significant difference within the nutrition industry – whether an individual,
group or organisation. For further information about the CN Awards, visit:
nutrition2me.com/cn-awards
*The annual CN Awards were launched in 2010 by Complete Media & Marketing Ltd. (CM2) – the publishers of Complete Nutrition (CN)
Magazines. CM2 do not endorse any particular individual’s, group’s, organisation’s or company’s products, services, resources, views or
opinions. For further details on the CN Awards, visit: nutrition2me.com/cn-awards

Summary: Second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) 23-24 May 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Stories to remember in Thessaloniki

It has been wonderful to bring together the team from Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Romania, and the UK (pictured) within the second transnational project meeting from Thessaloniki, 23-24 May 2019, to advance the Story2Remember ERASMUS+ project: Using drama and storytelling in dementia care.

Collaborative discussions brought about positive actions to set out our next steps including:

  • actions for disseminating Intellectual Output 1: the booklet.
  • agreement for our evaluation process and next steps of how we will capture the impact of the ‘Story2remember’ training program and workshops.
  • a timeline for piloting the ‘Story2remember’ training, delivery and data collection.
  • a more cohesive outlook and next steps on how we can take forward Intellectual Output 3: the toolkit.

We also discussed about the peer-review of the first Intellectual Output achieved, the booklet in creative drama and storytelling for practitioners and further impact in the field and future project activities. The booklet is aimed at dementia practitioners and provides an overview of how creative drama and storytelling are being used within the dementia care field and the benefits they may have for the well-being of people living with dementia and their care partners. It is wonderfully designed and will be key tool to bring about opportunities for our communities to engage with this exciting project. Thank you to everyone for their input and a special thank you to Dr. Ben Hicks for creating this dynamic and engaging booklet which personifies this project. We look forward to sharing the booklet with everyone.

We were honoured to have two enthusiastic and passionate guest speakers whose research focuses on using creative arts to enhance wellbeing for people living with dementia connected to Alzheimer Hellas. Firstly, Professor Magda Tsolaki talked about the benefits for people living with dementia linked to their research using non-pharmacological interventions involving creative arts and art therapy. Professor Tsolaki also spoke about the work they are doing to support carers and caregivers. Secondly, Elena Poptsi talked about the benefits associated with their research using dance and drama therapy for people living with dementia. It was enlightening to have an insight into the exciting research being carried out, which is positively changing the landscape for people living with dementia in Greece.

Gaiety School of Acting, the partner from Ireland shared the latest news on the ‘Story2remember’ creative drama and storytelling pilot workshops, which have initially shown to bring about a sense of inclusion for people living with dementia. We look forward to getting our creative hats on and immersing ourselves in the training from Dublin in August, where we will all receive the ‘Story2remember’ training in using creative drama and storytelling in dementia care.

By Danielle Wyman Research Assistant for ADRC (Bournemouth University).

 

Website: https://story2remember.eu/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/STORY2REMEMBER.EU/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Story2rememberE

Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2019

 

The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre’s Amanda Adams and Dina Blagden attended the Annual Alzheimer’s Society Conference at the Oval in London last May 2019, and joined Health Education England (HEE) (Jan Zietara: Head of Programme Delivery – South Health Education England, and Chris O’Connor: Consultant Admiral Nurse/HEE Dementia Fellow Health Education England) on the stand. They spoke to a range of people about the Dementia Education and Learning Through Simulation 2 ( DEALTS 2) training – the ADRC team are currently delivering  the training for a second time, across the South of England.

Dina presented a poster on research evaluation of DEALTS 2 from training sessions delivered from the first round, funded by HEE. These resources provide a simulation-based training package for staff working regularly with people living with dementia. The simulation approach aims to facilitate staff to consider experiences from the point of view of a person living with dementia. These resources can be adapted to be relevant in different settings, and have been designed using low key simulation scenarios, with the opportunity to be adjusted to suit the level of resources available.

The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre was at the Caring UK Conference – 11th April 2019

conferences

The Caring UK conference was held at Bournemouth Football Club’s Vitality Stadium. The doors opened promptly at 08.30 for attendees to visit the various exhibition stands that were on show. This included our very own stand displaying our guides and workbooks around the topic of Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia. These were very popular with attendees and helped showcase the work that the centre does. The stand was run by Caroline Jones (Administrator for the centre) and Dr Michele Board (Co-Director of the centre).

As part of the conference Dr Michele Board was giving a talk about ‘Insight into the Lived experience of Living with Dementia – A Virtual Reality Experience’. Having spoken to a lot of attendees in the morning ahead of Dr Michele Board’s talk in the afternoon, they were all very much looking forward to hearing Michele speak.

Overall, it was a very worthwhile conference to attend having met a variety of useful contacts from the care industry and it also really helped raise awareness of the work that the Ageing and Dementia Centre does.

Image of the Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia: A Guide for Care Staff that was on display.

Image of the Eating and Drinking Well: Supporting People Living with Dementia workbook  that was on display.

ADRC sharing research and making impact at key dementia conferences

In the last few weeks, members and a PhD Student from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) have attended the latest dementia conferences and an awards ceremony.

28th Alzheimer Europe Conference, Barcelona (Spain)

Prof Jane Murphy, Dr Michele Board and Yolanda Barrado-Martín attended the 28th Alzheimer Europe Conference (29th to 31st October 2018). Jane presented a paper on her nutrition research ‘Innovative training to improve nutrition and hydration in people living with dementia’. Dr Michele Board presented a poster ‘Evaluating the impact of the virtual reality app “A walk through dementia” on students learning and practice’ centred on her research funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK. Whilst Yolanda presented a poster ‘What are the views of people living with dementia and their informal carers getting involved in Tai Chi?’ based on the findings from her PhD project which forms part of the TACIT Trial.

During the conference, over 800 international researchers met in Barcelona to learn about research, policy and practice around the theme ‘Making dementia a European priority’. Amongst the attendees to the conference, there were also people living with dementia and their carers who took the floor in different sessions. The main aim of those living with dementia was that they want to be involved in decision making processes in their day-to-day life and care, including their participation in research (i.e., advocating for co-creation approaches). Specific themes of the conference covered policies, care approaches and services for people living with dementia and their carers, as well as their rights in our society, and strategies to prevent and treat dementia.

13th Annual UK Dementia Congress, Brighton

 Prof Jane Murphy, Dr Michele Board, Dr Michelle Heward and Dr Ben Hicks attended the 13th Annual Dementia Congress (6th and 8th November 2018). Dr Michelle Heward presented a poster on the ‘implementation and evaluation of the Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2 (DEALTS 2) programme’ a project funded by Heath Education England (HEE) to develop and evaluate an education toolkit for acute care settings. During the first plenary session, Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care Caroline Dinenage MP highlighted that “staff training for dementia is increasing with programmes like DEALTS 2”. As part of the dissemination funding for the DEALTS 2 programme, Michelle and Jane were also invited to talk to conference attendees visiting the HEE stand about the programme evaluation. Dr Michele Board presented her research funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK in a paper ‘Evaluating the impact of the Virtual Reality app ‘A Walk-Through Dementia’ on year one health care students’ clinical practice’.  Dr Ben Hicks presented a paper ‘Game Plan: promoting gaming technology amongst dementia practitioners’ based on his European funded research.

 

 

The annual conference attracts practitioners, academics and people with dementia and carers to discuss the latest innovations and research in the dementia field. The motion this year was ‘the right to services is more important that disability rights for people with dementia’ and stimulated a dynamic exchange of opinions during the many plenaries, parallel sessions and workshops

9th National Dementia Care Awards 2018, Brighton

Following the Dementia Congress, on the 8th November Dr Michelle Heward and Dr Michele Board were invited to represent the DEALTS 2 team at the National Dementia Care Awards, following the programme being shortlisted for the Best Dementia Care Award. The evening was full of glitz and glamour with the dress code ‘black tie’. Following a three course meal, finalists and the winners of the 14 categories were announced and celebrated. We had a fantastic night celebrating the hard work and dedication of so many individuals and teams from the dementia field, and although we did not win the category, we were delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious national award.

Attendance at these events was a great opportunity to showcase some of the current research projects being undertaken by the ADRC team, hear the views of those living with dementia and their carers, and network with practitioners and researchers in the dementia field.

ADRC and HEE showcase ‘DEALTS 2’ at ‘Dementia 2020: The Next Phase’ in London

On Tuesday 17th April 2018, the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) were invited to join Health Education England (HEE) to showcase the Dementia Education and Learning Through Simulation 2 (DEALTS 2) programme at ‘Dementia 2020: The Next Phase’ in London. The event, hosted by Govconnect, provided an opportunity to consider progress on the ‘Challenge Dementia 2020 Implementation Plan’ assessing whether commitments have been meet so far. Commitments of the plan aspire to make England the best country in the world for: dementia care and support; for people with dementia to live; and to conduct dementia research.

In 2016, HEE commissioned a team from Bournemouth University (BU) to develop and evaluate DEALTS 2. DEALTS 2 is a simulation-based dementia education programme for staff in acute hospitals across England. It is based on an experiential learning approach, placing hospital staff into the shoes of a person with dementia, to facilitate a positive impact on practice. The training is mapped against a selection of core competencies for staff with regular contact with people with dementia (Tier 2) and underpinned by the Humanising Values Framework a philosophical lens originally developed at BU. The team, Dr Michelle Heward, Dr Michele Board, Ashley Spriggs and Prof Jane Murphy, delivered DEALTS 2 as a train-the-trainer model across England in 2017 to 196 trainers from 13 HEE Local Education Boards, and are continuing to evaluate the impact on practice.

The DEALTS 2 programme was showcased as a case study at the Dementia 2020 event in a presentation given by Jan Zietara the Head of Programme Delivery for HEE. Dr Michelle Heward represented the ADRC at the event which provided an opportunity to connect with members of key organisations involved in delivering the Implementation Plan for Dementia 2020, as well as people with dementia, caregivers and individuals interested in dementia care and support more broadly.

The event was co-chaired by George Rook an advocate who himself lives with dementia, and Rachel Thompson the Professional and Practice Lead for Dementia UK. Throughout the event a range of speakers updated the audience on progress including: Jeremy Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Alzheimer`s Society; David Nuttall, Deputy Director – Dementia Policy, Department of Health; and Dr Charles Alessi Senior Advisor and Lead for Dementia, Public Health England. It has to be said though that Suzy Webster who is a caregiver for her mother who has dementia gave the most heartfelt speech reminding us that policy is necessary but it is now time to see action on the ground to improve care and support for people with dementia – not a dry eye was left in the house!

Discussion on the day focused on celebrating the small steps forward that have been taken, whilst being mindful that there remains some way to go to meet the commitments outlined in the plan by 2020.

ERASMUS 2017: Promoting autonomy for people with dementia using ICT applications

The end of 2017 brought about the start of the second successful ERASMUS funded project for Dr Ben Hicks (psychology lecturer and member of ADRC) and Professor Wen Tang (Head of Creative Technology Department). Working alongside European partners from Slovenia (Alzheimer’s Slovenia), Greece (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Spain (Alzheimer’s Castellon and the University of Valencia) and Turkey (Alzheimer’s Turkey), the two year project aims to develop an e-platform that raises awareness and promotes the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the autonomy of people with dementia and their care partners.

The first meeting was held in Castellon, Spain, at the Universitat Jaume 1 on the 18-19th December 2017 and was attended by Ben and Natalia Adamczewska (ADRC). Over the course of two days, the proposed research plan and outcomes of the project were discussed in more detail and tasks were assigned to each of the European partners. This included establishing an Advisory Group of people with dementia, care partners and practitioners to inform the development of the project as well as conducting a review of best practice within this field.

Although it is only early days, there was a real buzz around the meeting, as the partners discussed the project and the potential beneficial impact it could have for people living with dementia across Europe. The second meeting for the project team is planned for April/May 2018.

If you would like further information on the research please contact Ben on bhicks@bournemouth.ac.uk