Minds In Motion: Dr Olivia Luijnenburg - Spirituality in Dementia Care
Dementia Researcher Vodcast
11/24/24
•39m
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The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers.
Over the next few months, we will be releasing the second series, hearing from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking e a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor.
In show Trevor is joined by Dr Sarah Kate Smith from The University of Manchester and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Greater Manchester to interview Dr Olivia Luijnenburg.
Olivia works in the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King’s College London. She works on various projects around social care workforce and care homes, however the focus in this show is on her research into spirituality in dementia care. We explore her focus on co-developing reflective tools to address the spiritual needs of care home residents living with dementia, as well as their families and care staff. Working to understand how spirituality, is broadly defined to define individuals meaning and purpose, and how accommodating this can enhance care practices in diverse settings.
Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research.
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
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Previous Episode
Stronger Together: Peer Support and Community
November 10, 2024
•59m
In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Megan Rose Readman from the University of Liverpool discusses the role of peer support and community in research careers.
This session explores the importance of support networks at all career stages, from early career to senior roles. Megan is joined by three guests, each with experience in building and sustaining research communities specifically to support researchers working in all areas of Alzheimer's disease and all other forms of dementia, and neurodegeneration:
- Adam Smith from Dementia Researcher, who discusses their global community, including the recent launch of a new app designed to connect researchers.
- Dr Oz Ismail from Alzheimer's Association and ISTAART, who provides insights into their professional society’s efforts to support Alzheimer’s research globally.
- Josh Wright from Alzheimer’s Research UK, who explains the structure and benefits of their UK-wide network, especially for early-career researchers.
Listeners will gain an understanding of how these communities function and the different forms of support available, from mentoring to practical resources. The episode also touches on how the pandemic has shifted peer support needs, with virtual communities becoming essential for many researchers.
Five Top Tips from the show:
- Seek Out Professional Networks: Engaging with professional societies, like ISTAART or Dementia Researcher, can provide access to a broad community of peers and experts, which is especially valuable if you're working in isolation or in a niche area.
- Leverage Online Communities: Virtual communities offer a space to connect with others in your field, share resources, and find support—important for building connections, particularly when geographic location or funding constraints make in-person networking challenging.
- Participate in Mentorship Opportunities: Many research networks offer mentorship programmes, often through dedicated platforms or apps, where you can find mentors or become one yourself, helping to navigate career stages or specific research challenges.
- Engage in Journal Clubs and Special Interest Groups: Virtual journal clubs or topic-specific groups, as seen in Dementia Researcher’s app, allow researchers to discuss recent studies, share insights, and collaborate within specific research interests.
- Use Peer Support to Improve Wellbeing: Peer support networks provide a safe space for discussing challenges and successes beyond research—such as mental health or career setbacks—offering a layer of personal support often needed in academic careers.
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.
Leave us a tip:
https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support
Follow us on social media:
Next Episode
Grant Writing - Tips from Grant Awardees & Grant Reviewers
December 8, 2024
•37m
In this panel discussion / question and answer session, Katherine Gray, Alzheimer's Society Head of Research chairs a discussion with Professor Heather Mortiboys, Professor Nathan Davies, Dr Jeffrey Davies, Professor Andrey Abramov and John Major.
Panellists provide tips and insights into the grant application process, providing their perspectives as grant reviewers and funding board members. They also provide advice on how to approach grant application writing. The panellists, who are leading researchers and volunteers on grant advisory boards, discuss the key components of a successful grant application, common mistakes, and how to demonstrate the potential impact of research. They also provide advice on resubmitting applications after initial rejection and how to effectively manage career breaks. Together they emphasise the importance of clear hypotheses, realistic expectations, proper costing, and team science. They also highlight the need for perseverance and flexibility in the application process.
Top Tips from the session:
- Craft a Clear Hypothesis and Plan: Ensure your hypothesis and aims are clearly defined and that your research plan directly addresses the question you're proposing to answer. A focused and well-structured approach is essential.
- Engage Lay Audiences Effectively: Take the lay summary seriously; it’s not just for lay reviewers but all panel members. Avoid leaving it to the last minute, and ensure it communicates the significance and impact of your research clearly and concisely.
- Be Realistic and Honest: Avoid overestimating what you can achieve within the timeframe and resources of the grant. Underestimating costs or overpromising outputs can hurt your chances. Realistic, feasible objectives are more compelling.
- Build Collaborative Teams: Funders appreciate team science. If you lack expertise in a specific area, involve collaborators to strengthen your application. Highlighting teamwork demonstrates a comprehensive and feasible approach to your research.
- Learn from Rejections: If you’re resubmitting, carefully address feedback and demonstrate how your revised proposal aligns with reviewers’ suggestions. If feedback indicates the project doesn’t fit the funder’s priorities, consider adapting it for a better-suited funding body.
Recorded at the Alzheimer's Society ECR Retreat on the 19th June 2024.
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.
Leave us a tip:
https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support
Follow us on social media:
- https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
- https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
- https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
- https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
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