Overview

Debbie’s PhD research is examining museum programmes for people with dementia, with a particular focus on how including caregivers impacts outcomes for the person with dementia and the dyad as a whole. The PhD is taking a realist approach – so rather than asking whether the programmes work or not, asking how and why they work. It is aimed that the resulting theory of how they work will be applicable to not just museum programmes, but also other kinds of participatory arts programmes, which are becoming increasingly popular as a way of supporting people to live well with dementia.

Her broader research interests include living well with chronic health conditions (particularly those acquired in adulthood), the arts and health, wellbeing, and accessibility in its many forms.

Supervisors: Iain Lang, Noreen Orr, Rob Anderson

Funded by the Dr and Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust

Qualifications

DClinPsy (University of Hull)

PGCert Mental Health Care (University of York)

BSc(Hons) Psychology (University of York)