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 species, however, the story seems somewhat different. Compared with other interdisciplinary fields (e.g. STIS), dementia studies has been slow to embrace attempts to ‘think with’ and ‘think about’ animals and other f ..read more

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 have been raised in relation to people living with dementias, but little attention is paid to the role of the moving-expressive body and to creative processes in advancing issues of social justic ..read more

By Lorena Sordo Lorena Sordo is a PhD Candidate at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh. Cuco and me 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, they bring us joy, happiness, love, and companionship. Nowadays, therapy animals/pets are becoming more and more common as they significantly improve the well-being of people with autism and mental health problems. We have also read in previous blog posts from ..read more

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, I’m Louise Locock. OK, so first off, a confession, this paper is probably more informed by my personal experience of living with an aging Siamese cat than it is by theory. And there he is in the backgro ..read more

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 program called Riding in the Moment that was created and implemented by Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in northern Colorado. Riding in the Moment is an adaptive riding program that aims to enhance quality of life f ..read more

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 Dementia UK is in increasing the general public’s understanding of the experience of what it is like to live with dementia, whether this is from the perspective ..read more

By Dr. Holly McKenzie. Dr. Holly McKenzie is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan. Opal and I looking for adventure in April 2019. Photo by Maki Fotos 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 breeder had placed with us as a therapy and performance dog prospect. I felt 100% ready for the challenge of living with and training Opal. My confidence was understandable: I had trained many horses (some shy, some confident) while growi ..read more

By Dr Christina Buse and Dr Sarah Noone Dr Christina Buse is a Lecturer in Sociology & Social Psychology at the University of York, UK 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 everyday garden practices. We’ve been using methods including walking interviews, diaries, and visual methods (filming, sketching), to understand the embodied and sensory experiences of gardens. However ..read more

By Dr Sarah Campbell, Professor Andrew Clark and Cathy Riley. Dr Sarah Campbell is a Lecturer in Integrated Health & Social Care at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK Professor Andrew Clark with his dog Betty. Andrew works in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, UK. 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 on the individuals t ..read more