All News A–Z
Alzheimer's Society commits almost £2million to revolutionise dementia care research
Alzheimer’s Society has announced on 20th June that it has committed almost £2million to a group of UK Universities and organisations, including Bangor University and led by the University of Exeter, as part of its biggest-ever single investment in dementia care research.
Publication date: 29 June 2017
Auntie Glenda & her Dementia Friends – Launch Event
A new resource to raise awareness about dementia and created by school pupils at Ysgol Pentreuchaf, is to be launched as part of a celebration of the innovative ‘Auntie Glenda’ project. This takes place at Bangor University’s stand at the National Eisteddfod on Tuesday between 10-1.00. Dementia is a major public health issue in Wales and the research and teaching at Bangor University is focused on increasing support to those living with the condition. It is estimated between 40,000 and 50,000 people in Wales are currently living with dementia. Symptoms can vary according to the type of dementia but the condition can affect daily tasks, communication, senses and memory.
Publication date: 1 August 2017
Bangor University assists development of 'dementia-friendly' church groups
Five groups of churches across North and Mid Wales have been allocated funding to develop dementia-friendly community projects and work towards becoming “dementia friendly”. The funding comes from Bangor University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)* and has been awarded to Professor Bob Woods and Revd Dr Bob Friedrich. It follows a conference at Llangollen Pavilion where 78 delegates from Welsh churches gathered to hear how to create Dementia Friendly Churches.
Publication date: 19 May 2017
Bangor University receives funding to build health and social care research infrastructure 2018-2020
Research Groups in the Bangor Institute of Health and Medical Research (BIHMR) have been awarded significant amounts of further funding from the Welsh Government.
Publication date: 18 December 2017
Bangor University research features on HORIZON
A research project running at Bangor University, with vital input from members of communities across north Wales, features in the next BBC 2 science documentary programme Horizon (11 May 2016 BBC 2 8.00).
Publication date: 5 May 2016
Bangor researchers contribute to advancing dementia research strategy
Dr Gill Windle and Emeritus Professor Bob Woods, of the Dementia Services Development centre , part of BIHMR in the School of Healthcare Sciences were part of the Alzheimer’s Society taskforce of leading UK clinicians and researchers in dementia, UK funders of dementia research, people with dementia and carer representatives developing the first ‘ dementia research roadmap for prevention, diagnosis, intervention and care by 2025’ .
Publication date: 23 February 2018
Children join in Dementia & Imagination- Lost in Art project
School children in Denbighshire worked alongside an art group for people living with dementia to create a large scale piece of art which responded to questions around involving and including people living with dementia in our society. Year 6 children from Clawdd Offa Primary School, Prestatyn, joined with group members from Denbighshire County Council (DCC) Art Service’s ‘Lost in Art’ programme to explore questions on creating inclusive and supportive communities for people living with dementia within our own communities. The children also took part in a Dementia Friends awareness session before the workshop to learn more about the illness.
Publication date: 22 April 2016
Combining daycare for children and elders benefits all generations
We live in a society where care of young and old is increasingly segregated , with very limited opportunity for the two age groups to interact. If we just thought a little more socially, however, these “book end generations” could become great resources for each other – all we need to do is put them in the same place. This article by Catrin Hedd Jones , Lecturer in Dementia Studies, School of Healthcare Sciences was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article . Catrin Hedd Jones , Bangor University
Publication date: 4 January 2017
Creating dementia supportive communities in North Wales
People living with dementia, their family and carers are being invited to join with professionals who support people with dementia in the health service, commercial and third sectors and with experts researching the condition, in a new network of groups across North Wales. The newly established groups intended to provide support, information and an opportunity to share information and experience.
Publication date: 4 October 2016
Creative Conversations Celebration Event
Bangor University, in partnership with Flintshire Social Services, and the renowned author John Killick has recently celebrated their latest project in supporting people with dementia - Creative Conversations.
Publication date: 28 September 2018
Creative Conversations Celebration Event
Bangor University, in partnership with Flintshire Social Services, and the renowned author John Killick has recently celebrated their latest project in supporting people with dementia - Creative Conversations. The project was led by Dr Kat Algar-Skaife from the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) Wales, at the College of Human Sciences , Bangor University and was funded by Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government.
Publication date: 24 September 2018
Cruse Volunteer Support Invaluable to Carers Supporting People Living with Dementia
Researchers at the School of Health Sciences in Bangor University are currently evaluating a new service developed by Maxine Norrish at Cruse Bereavement Care Cymru and people affected by dementia in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society Cymru to provide emotional support following a diagnosis.
Publication date: 18 May 2021
DSDC becomes member of GARN
DSDC Wales is proud to have been accepted as a member of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Global Ageing Research Network (GARN).
Publication date: 8 July 2013
DSDC involved in development of new practice resource
DSDC Wales involved in the development of ‘Promoting psychological wellbeing for people with dementia and their carers: An enhanced practice resource’ by Education for NHS Scotland.
Publication date: 24 July 2013
Dementia care improved by just one hour of social interaction each week
Increasing the amount of social interaction for people with dementia living in care homes to just one hour a week improves quality of life when combined with personalised care. Bangor University's Dementia Services Development Centre at the School of Healthcare Sciences contributed to a large-scale trial led by the University of Exeter, King’s College London and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which found that the approach also saves money.
Publication date: 7 February 2018
Dementia with Dignity Conference
Publication date: 9 September 2013
Dementia: “illness” label may lower mood
North Walians have taken part in research which has just been published and indicates that people who perceive dementia symptoms as an illness feel more negative than those who see it as an inevitable part of getting older.
Publication date: 1 March 2016
Dr Gill Windle to join a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advisory group
Publication date: 11 August 2014
Ensuring access to Welsh Music for people living with dementia
Listening to your favourite music lifts your spirits, whatever your age. That's why Bangor University and Merched y Wawr are launching an appeal on the Welsh Day of Music, for people to get in touch and suggest their favourite Welsh language songs from all times. The most popular suggestions will be collated to create a free digital CD and downloadable resource, which will be shared free of charge to care homes and dementia care homes to ensure that Welsh music is available to residents enjoy.
Publication date: 7 February 2019
Exploration of dementia announced as second project in The Hub
Publication date: 22 June 2016
Finding new ways of living with dementia
As the Welsh Government seeks views on its recently launched dementia strategy, Bangor University is bringing together people living with dementia, and organisations who are also working on dementia related support and research projects to share best practice in north Wales. Living with dementia in North Wales – we’re in it together , a Conference at the University on 27 January, will hear the experiences of people living with dementia, as well as those of a number of organisations providing dementia supportive programmes and conducting dementia-related research.
Publication date: 26 January 2017
First exploration of mental health resilience and loneliness of older people with cognitive impairment in Wales
Loneliness and mental health problems are more common in older people who have dementia or have difficulties with memory, thinking and learning. But not all individuals will be affected in the same way.
Publication date: 14 April 2021
Five-country survey of carers highlights continuing delays in dementia diagnosis across countries
Today, at the 27th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Berlin, Prof. Bob Woods ( Bangor University , Wales, United Kingdom) presented the top line results of a five-country survey on the experience of 1,409 carers of a diagnosis of dementia.
Publication date: 3 October 2017
Funding to develop dementia researchers
In Wales there at 45,000 people living with dementia and the cost of illness has been estimated at £1.4 billion per year. The highest part of this cost is unpaid care by family and friends. Support services can be fragmented and difficult for people to access across health and social care sectors. Poor transport links and the risk of carers feeling more isolated and unsupported are particular challenges for rural areas. Researchers at Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences have been awarded over half a million pounds in funding to undertake fellowships in dementia research. These fellowships, funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales , aim to build capacity in health and social care research by supporting individuals to become independent researchers and to undertake high-quality research projects’.
Publication date: 30 August 2017
Funding to develop dementia researchers
In Wales there at 45,000 people living with dementia and the cost of illness has been estimated at £1.4 billion per year. The highest part of this cost is unpaid care by family and friends. Support services can be fragmented and difficult for people to access across health and social care sectors. Poor transport links and the risk of carers feeling more isolated and unsupported are particular challenges for rural areas. Researchers at Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences have been awarded over half a million pounds in funding to undertake fellowships in dementia research. These fellowships, funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales , aim to build capacity in health and social care research by supporting individuals to become independent researchers and to undertake high-quality research projects’.
Publication date: 30 August 2017
Hen Blant Bach wins Silver in International Film & Television Award
A programme, of which Bangor University was an integral part, has won a Silver Award in the 2018 New York Festivals International Film and Television Awards . Hen Blant Bach , a production by Darlun production company won the Award in the Community Portraits documentary category. The series was a new factual format for S4C, and followed the social experiment which brought older people and nursery children together to share their day care. The programmes documented the transformative positive effects that can be brought about by bringing these two groups together.
Publication date: 12 April 2018
Join Dementia Research (JDR) - 1st Anniversary
Publication date: 24 February 2016
KESS Masters by Research studentship - The Quality of life of people with advanced dementia : a pilot study
Publication date: 12 August 2016
Looking to the future: Dementia and Imagination at the Utopia Fair
Dementia and Imagination , an exciting Bangor University led project which gives people with dementia an opportunity to get involved in art, will be one of a number of stall holders at Somerset House for their UTOPIA 2016 Fair . UTOPIA 2016 is a collaboration between three London neighbours: Somerset House, Kings College, London and the Courtauld Institute and Gallery, in partnership with the British Library, the AHRC, the British Council, London School of Economics and Politics, M-Museum in Leuven, Guardian Live and Verso.
Publication date: 24 June 2016
Monumental arts project changing perceptions in Welsh care homes
An arts participatory project involving 122 care homes across Wales (nearly 20% of the total) has brought fundamental changes to the way staff view some of their most vulnerable residents. This was one of the key findings of an evaluation of Age Cymru’s cARTrefu project and presented to ministers and AMs at a special celebration in the Senedd today (Tuesday 10 October 2017).
Publication date: 10 October 2017
Music set to bring comfort to Welsh speakers living with dementia
Welsh speakers living with dementia can now enjoy songs from their past in Welsh, thanks to a Bangor University and Merched y Wawr initiative supported by the Welsh Government to help care givers across Wales improve their quality of life. Music is said to help soothe, stimulate and bring to mind long-forgotten memories. As part of the initiative, care homes across Wales are to be provided with a new CD and playlist of specially curated Welsh language music.
Publication date: 19 July 2019
New MSc in Dementia Studies draws on academic and clinical expertise
The development of a new MSc in Dementia Studies this academic year represents an exciting opportunity for clinical staff involved in dementia care, both in the community and in hospital settings across North Wales, the UK and internationally. It was developed through partnership work between Bangor University, BCUHB and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. The MSc in Dementia Studies starts from the viewpoint of people living with dementia and then explores areas of clinical practice and research from this stance throughout the course, exploring important issues that confront people living with dementia and the best approaches to delivering excellent care.
Publication date: 30 August 2016
North Wales Care Home Competition to Enrich Care to support people with Dementia via Enhanced Environments
Publication date: 25 September 2014
One social hour a week in dementia care improves lives and saves money
Publication date: 27 July 2017
People with dementia benefit from goal‒oriented therapy
Publication date: 27 July 2017
Popular Dementia based art to showcase in Rhyl
Bangor University’s Dementia Awareness Week’s activities culminates with a humorous art installation that comes alive at dusk, at the Taste Academy, Rhyl.
Publication date: 19 May 2016
Professor among 28 leading social scientists conferred as Academicians
Bob Woods, Professor of Clinical Psychology of Older People at Bangor University is one of 28 leading social scientists to be made an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.
Publication date: 24 March 2014
Research into alternatives to day centre support for people living with dementia
Dr Gill Toms, Dr Diane Seddon, Professor Rhiannon Tudor-Edwards and Dr Carys Jones from the Bangor Institute of Health and Medical Research and their partners (Person Shaped Support (UK) Ltd) and Shared Lives Plus have secured funding from Health and Care Research Wales for a two-year study to explore an alternative to day centre support for people living with dementia and their families in North Wales.
Publication date: 28 October 2020
Research on resilience in dementia care-givers
Publication date: 11 August 2014
Sharing the spoils of the Dementia Art project
Health professionals from across north Wales are set to benefit from the experiences of participants in a major UK Dementia and Imagination project, led by Bangor University, as the first workshop takes place in the region.
Publication date: 23 June 2015
Significant barriers to timely diagnosis of dementia and access to post-diagnostic support found across five European countries
Significant barriers to timely diagnosis of Alzheimer have been found across Europe, according to a report presented today at the European Parliament. The findings of the five-country study funded by Alzheimer Europe and led by Prof Bob Woods of Bangor University’s College of Healthcare Sciences identified the following:
Publication date: 26 June 2018
Simple structured discussions and word games beneficial for people with dementia
Activities as simple as structured discussion groups and word games can benefit memory and thinking for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to a systematic review lead by Professor Bob Woods, of the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales, Bangor University. The review also found that well-being also improved as a result.
Publication date: 15 February 2012
Six from Bangor University appointed Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leaders
Six health and social care researchers at Bangor University have been appointed Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leaders by Health Care Research Wales.
Publication date: 25 March 2016
Social Science research improves quality of life and care for people with dementia
Research by Bangor University, which was carried out in several care homes in north Wales, is featured in a booklet launched in the House of Commons on Tuesday 15 March. The latest issue of the Campaign for Social Science’s ‘Making the Case for the Social Sciences’ briefings focuses on a number of research projects on dementia at universities in the UK.
Publication date: 14 March 2016
Start of the Dementia and Imagination project announced
Senior research fellow at DSDC Wales, Dr Gill Windle, announces the start of the Dementia and Imagination project.
Publication date: 24 July 2013
View the recently completed full Remcare Report
Learn more about the objectives of the trial and read the final report.
Publication date: 29 July 2013
Want to stay mentally healthy in older age? Stimulate your brain in early life
Stimulating the brain by taking on leadership roles at work or staying on in education help people stay mentally healthy in later life, according to new research. The large-scale investigation published in the journal PLOS Medicine and led by Prof Linda Clare of the University of Exeter, recently of Bangor University’s School of Psychology used data from more than 2,000 mentally fit people over the age of 65, and examined the theory that experiences in early or mid life which challenge the brain make people more resilient to changes resulting from age or illness – they have higher “cognitive reserve”.
Publication date: 24 April 2017
Welsh play a part in dementia research
Dementia numbers in the UK have been in decline over the past 20 years according to results from a large research study which reported earlier this year. Figures in the report from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study suggested that the figures for England, if applied to the whole UK, imply that there are 214,000 fewer cases of dementia than predicted. That would also mean that there are currently around 670,000 people living in the UK with dementia, rather than the estimated number of 800,000 - 900,000. To help understand the situation in Wales, Bangor University is leading the Welsh version of this research. The researchers intend to announce specific statistics for dementia rates for Wales next summer.
Publication date: 5 November 2013