My work is suported by the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit.

PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE IN DEMENTIA
Epidemiology and health services research: to identify barriers to access to good quality palliative and end of life care for older people, complex interventions to improve care in a range of settings

-The CoMPASs:IOn Programme (Care Of Memory Problems in Advanced Stages: Improving Our kNowledge). A 3 year programme grant funded by Marie Curie Cancer Care UK to develop new interventions to improve end of life care forpeople with dementia

-Pain in Impaired Cognition. COST "European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research".  Action brings together leading researchers from a wide range of scientific disciplines. The major aim is the development of a comprehensive and internationally agreed-on assessment toolkit for older adults targeting the various subtypes of dementia and various aspects of pain, including pain diagnostics, cognitive examination and guidelines for proper assessment. http://www.cost-td1005.net/

-The SEED programme (PI Prof. L Robinson) This programme  aims to support professionals to deliver good quality, community-based end of life care in dementia. Firstly we will review current guidance and existing care pathways. We will also work with people with dementia, carers and professionals to examine how professionals deliver end of life care to people with dementia and their families, looking for examples of best practice and solutions to meet dementia-specific problems. Combining the above data, we will develop an intervention based on Individual Care Planning (ICP) and then see how the ICP fits into practice, if it is used by staff and whether it improves the quality of care provided. Finally we will create guidance for clinical commissioners on the provision of good quality end of life care in dementia. http://research.ncl.ac.uk/seed/

-The MARQUE study (PI  Prof. G Livingston) This study aims to increase knowledge of agitation, a distressing symptom which occurs in about 50 per cent of people with moderate or severe dementia. Indicators signify unmet need and can include restlessness, pacing, shouting or even verbal or physical aggression. The person with dementia may be in pain, hungry, thirsty, needing comfort or bored but unable to know or explain this.

The research team will develop, test and implement manuals to train staff about how best to reduce agitation and improve quality of life in care homes and for those people with dementia who are approaching the end of their lives. In addition, the team will mentor and train researchers to build capacity in dementia research.

LIASON PSYCHIATRY FOR OLDER PEOPLE
-The Behaviour and Pain (BepAid) Study. The Impact of acute Hospitalisation on People with Dementia: -BUPA Foundation/Alzheimer's Society
-Dementia in the Acute Hospital.MRC funded fellowship to characterise epidemiology,outcomes, the impact of dementia and predictors of mortality
-Delirium: epidemiological studies in the acute hospital