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Four Rivers Dementia Alliance

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Final Year Research - Mental Wellbeing Of Dementia Caregivers Living In Rural Devon

My name is Kate Parkin, and I’m in my final year at the University of Plymouth studying Psychology. Through both my degree and personal experiences, I’ve developed a strong passion for supporting people in the community who are living with dementia. Last year, I took a break from the usual academic routine to complete a placement year as a research intern at the Plymouth Science Park with Ian Sherriff and his colleagues. During this time, I investigated rural dementia-friendly communities across England, a project that has now been completed and is awaiting publication! I also gave a summary of some of my research at the South Hams Dementia Forum in July 2025 and highlighted in the 4RDA News Page. I’m now back for my final year and excited to be starting my dissertation project.

My project aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental wellbeing of dementia caregivers living in rural Devon, with a particular focus on how changes in formal and informal support networks have shaped their experiences. Prior research has highlighted that limited access to healthcare and community support in rural settings can intensify caregiver stress and isolation (Mogan et al., 2024; Zahed, 2020; Koyama et al., 2017). These challenges were amplified during the pandemic, as restrictions disrupted both professional and community-based support systems (Manca et al., 2022).

While national studies have explored the pandemic’s broad impact on dementia care, few have examined its effects within the specific rural context of Southwest England, where service provision and social connectedness are often constrained. This research therefore aims to address that gap through a focus on caregivers in rural Devon.

The idea is to use a focus group method to capture descriptions about the experiences of caregiver’s, their coping strategies, perceived changes in support, and what could be done to help. As well as this, I hope to also use questionnaires to understand caregiver’s mental wellbeing and their access to formal (health and social care services) and informal (family, peer, and community) support before, during, and after the pandemic.

At the last South Hams Dementia Forum, I delighted to hear the enthusiasm from those attending fin helping me with this project and I'm really looking forward to seeing what we shall learn.

If you are reading this article and you can assist me with this project but would like to know more detail, I can be contacted through 4RDA using the following email address in the first instance:
enquiries@4riversdementia.org.uk
Please include your name, telephone number and email address and I will follow up with you.
Thank you.

27th October 2025

Join Dementia Research

At the September meeting of the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance a presentation entitled Join Dementia Research was given by Elly French from the Research Engagement and Inclusion Team of The South West Peninsula Regional Research Delivery Network (SWPRRDN) which is part of the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) whose mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and deliver world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. The NIHR invests more than a billion pounds a year in research. This funding goes towards research projects, career development awards, and the people, facilities and technology that enable research to thrive.
Dementia and Neurodegeneration is one of 29 specialties that the NIHR RDN covers and the NIHR are working in partnership with Join Dementia Research (JDR). Join Dementia Research is a nationwide service that enables anyone over 18 to register their interest in dementia research. Since JDR's inception in 2015, over 50,000 people have signed up the service and there have been over 48,000 enrolments onto dementia studies and there is a drive to find more volunteers to sign up for Dementia Research.

WHY JOIN DEMENTIA RESEARCH?

1. There are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This is set to rise to 1 million by 2025.

2. It is only through research that diagnosis, treatment and care can improve and hopefully one day find a cure.

So if you are looking for studies to take part in, but don't know where to find them, then read through the attached PDF of the presentation and join online or over the telephone.

Research options are open to everyone and anyone with or without dementia can sign up. You can even register on behalf of someone else.

There are a variety of studies from prevention and treatments to improving the quality of life. As an individual signing up you can choose which studies you would like to take part in. The research you take part in will be your choice and work around your day to day life.

Please think about joining Dementia Research, your effort will be gratefully appreciated by all the Researchers and will give something back to society.




Community Engagement - Join Dementia Research (pdf)

Join Dementia Research

17th September 2025

Time For Dementia

Jo Symons, Time for Dementia Officer at the Alzheimer's Society, gave a short presentation at the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance (4RDA) September meeting about the 'Join Time for Dementia'. This is an innovative, award winning training programme, designed to educate undergraduate healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge, attitude and empathy towards people with dementia and their carers.

The basic principle is that students from a participating university will be paired with a family affected by dementia and arrangements for meeting can be face to face or virtual.

These meetings offer a unique learning opportunity for the students but are also a great chance for a family affected by dementia to share their experiences of living with the condition.

The benefits include contributing towards a better future for people living with dementia, help in the training of healthcare students, who will graduate with new knowledge and understanding when they work within the community and to be part of a network of families affected by dementia and hearing about new opportunities.

For more information, see the website listed or email:timefordementia@alzheimers.org.uk

Time For Dementia - Improve Future Healthcare (pdf)

Time For Dementia

15th September 2025

Rural Dementia Friendly Communities - Local Research

Katherine Parkin a student studying a BSc (Hons) Psychology degree at Plymouth University has completed her integrated placement year undertaking research into Rural Dementia Friendly Communities, working closely with Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm. At the June meeting of the South Hams Dementia Forum, Kate gave a presentation of her recent research covering the period September 2024 to May 2025.

A summary of her recent research and presentation has been provided to the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance and it makes interesting reading on the lack of rural dementia resources in England, but where available and usually provided by local organisations and local communities, what a significant and positive impact it has on people living with dementia in a rural setting.

Kate became interested in the provision and support of dementia, especially in a rural setting as both her parents have struggled with supporting Mothers in a rural area. 

Kate is hoping in her final year to get Ethical approval from the University of Plymouth to conduct a review of existing research and support including conducting interviews with carers past and present and expanding her survey sampling. 

Both Four Rivers Dementia Alliance and Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm are grateful for the work undertaken by Kate and shared with other local organizations as to the current picture in this part of the South Hams.

Rural Dementia Friendly Communities - Initial Research Review (pdf)

7th September 2025

Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Clinics In Devon

Dementia UK have partnered with Nationwide Building Societies across the UK to deliver free 45 minute Admiral Nurse appointments within branches. Admiral Nurses offer informal, confidential emotional support, information and guidance around all aspects of life with Dementia including pre-diagnosis and post-bereavement conversations.

Branches are revisited approximately every 3 months, with the next visit to Plymouth being September 9th, 10th and 11th. Bookings are available from the first Friday in August for September dates. There may also be other locations nearby with closer dates, so please check.

You can book appointments in a number of ways:

• Via the Dementia UK website. See the website link below or scan the QR Code attached.

• By texting APPOINTMENT to 0747872 4000 and they will get in touch to book an appointment with you via the telephone.

• Contacting your local branch and asking for support in booking an appointment (Plymouth: 0345 266 0439)

Admiral Nurses provide a wonderful service to both people living with dementia, their carers and their families and are there to provide support in a thoughtful and caring way to all.

Dementia UK - QR Code To Book An Appointment (pdf)

Book An Appointment Through Dementia UK At A Nationwide Branch

3rd June 2025

Dementia Action Week - May 2025 - Free Information Events

Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm are holding a number of interactive and informative events throughout the week beginning Monday 19th May as part of Dementia Action Week.

The events are open invitations, so there is no need to book. All you have to do is turn up on the day to the event you are interested in. there will be a refreshment break between each of the talks.

Each day will hold two events covering Scams Awareness, Benefits and Eligibility, Fire Home Safety, Power of Attorney/Wills Issues and Dementia Awareness. The events will be presented by people with experience and expertise in these field including a team from Wolferstans Solicitors who have a very record in supporting people living with dementia or caring for someone living with dementia in all things legal. Our Community Liaison and Support Lead Claire Puckey will be leading the Dementia Awareness events.

The events will be held in various locations on different days throughout the Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm villages. All the events will run from 2:15pm to 4:45pm Monday to Friday.

Please see the attached Information Sheet for the details and please come along as everyone is welcome and you could find the information given as valuable, especially, if you are caring for someone living with dementia and supporting them.

Dementia Action Week - Free Community Information Events (pdf)

29th April 2025

Supporting Rural Dementia – Thinking Differently

The Four Rivers Dementia Alliance have been granted their requested two year funding by the National Lottery Community Fund to support people living with dementia in a rural setting.
This will allow us to fund Claire Puckey our Community Liaison and Support Lead as she build relationships and supports groups and organisations in the Four Rivers area to consider ideas and events in their communities that in turn will be inclusive for people living with dementia, their families and carers and help enrich their lives as well as reduce both isolation and the stigma. 

It will also allow us to develop easy to read and digest support literature and workshops for a range of different groups from Parish Councils, to schools, businesses and social groups. The essence of our role and work is to help communities identify what they can do and where they can go to get additional support or build relationships with other rural communities. 

We are really grateful to the Community Fund for the investment and hopefully, we will be able to give a good return over two years for their investment.

The National Lottery Community Fund

15th April 2025

National and International Perspectives of Dementia

The University of Plymouth in conjunction with NIHR (Applied research Collaboration South West Peninsula) and Nanfang College Guangzhou held their latest conference on Dementia at the Mayflower Grandstand, Home Park Stadium (Plymouth Argyle) on Friday 11 April. 

The event was hosted by chairpersons Angela Rippon CBE and David Fitzgerald Broadcaster, who provided both amusing entertainment but also serious consideration around issues related to dementia and speakers from the United Kingdom and from around the world gave presentations to a multitude of organisations both in the room and broadcast over the internet.

There were presentations from speakers from Belgium, Ukraine, Japan, China as well as from tiny Gibraltar which despite it's small size have created an integrated community model to support people in their communities living with dementia. The Japanese presentation was interesting from the perspective of economic activities by businesses to incorporate ideas into their products that are mindful of people living with dementia, from socks to gas cookers. China is also making great strides in supporting people with dementia from incorporating traditional Chinese culture in rural areas to a structured state support for people and communities living with dementia. Both Japan and China are fully aware that the number of people with dementia will grow significantly over the coming decades are both their populations get older. Belgium presented their approach using advocacy put forward by people living with dementia to strive for an integrated dementia policy in a fragmented Flanders and Belgium compared to neighbouring countries. Their goal is to have an integrated policy that builds bridges across the linguistic, cultural and policy boundaries. Ukraine presented on building dementia support in a war torn country and their efforts to date. Ukraine needs support so if you want to know more then go to Dementia Support In Ukraine.

Close to home Alison Johnstone of the Welsh Ambulance Services and our own Claire Puckey gave presentation's on the effort being made in front line services to support patients with dementia and to support people living with dementia in rural areas. 

The Members of Parliament Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) and Steve Darling (Torbay) spoke about the work to date by Governments in funding and supporting dementia and diminishing support from the Government at present. On a more positive note Steve Darling with his wife Mandy highlighted the work being done and support given to people with disabilities including dementia when travelling. 

There were also presentations on the international survey of attitudes towards dementia which unfortunately show a decline worldwide in the understanding of what dementia is and a misunderstanding that people with dementia can live almost normal lives whilst the disease progresses. This was bought home in a question and answer session with Chris Roberts, the former Chairperson of Alzheimer's European Forum and his wife Jayne Goodrick. Chris had been diagnosed with early onset dementia in his 50's and for sixteen years has continued supporting and fighting for both a better understanding of dementia and support at all levels for people living with dementia. As Chris say's he might be forgetful but he could even after sixteen years make a persuasive argument from the stage and answers questions. He was not going to let his dementia get in the way! 

Finally, there were very interesting presentations digital health technologies to support people living with dementia, supported in their design by the very people the technologies are designed for. There was also presentations on Artificial Intelligence on helping the mind to learn as well as innovations from Doctor Gillian Horne of the Rowcroft Hospice on innovations in dementia care and supported living. 

The overall message of the 2025 conference was one of 'Changing the way we think, talk and act'. To push to raise awareness and build an understanding to empower and transform the approach to living with dementia for both the individual and their communities.





Sharing Opportunities in Worldwide Dementia Care

11th April 2025

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy In Ivybridge - PL21 0AD

Following the success of the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy pilot in Ivybridge, Katherine Bailey of Conversation Works is now running a new group based in Ivybridge at St John's Hall (Postcode PL21 0AD). The sessions will run every Thursday between 1:30pm and 3:30pm.

If you are interested in understanding Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and how it helps to slow down cognitive decline and stimulate the brain or have a family member or friend that might benefit from the therapy then Katherine would be happy to provide support and advice.

Katherine's contact details are:
Email: katherine@conversationworks.co.uk
Telephone: 07899 913134

Ivybridge CST Poster (pdf)

Conversation Works

3rd March 2025