Pt. I of Supporting People with Dementia: a Role for Alexander Technique Teachers?
Researcher Interview Series All Videos Pt. 1
Part I of the ASO Researcher Interview Series was released from December 2020 - January 2021. This first section begins with an introductory video to the theme of the Alexander Technique and its role in supporting people with dementia, then continues with six videos that explore a pilot study completed on the Alexander Technique in a residential care setting for people with dementia.
Introduction to the theme - The Alexander Technique and its role in supporting people with dementia.
This first video provides an introduction to the theme and is part of a series. As knowledge in the area develops, we expect to provide updates on progress and plans. In this video Emma Wolverson, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Hull specialising in dementia care, explains the limitations of popular interventions for people with dementia, clarifies common misconceptions about people with dementia and explains why the Alexander Technique has potential to support them in various ways.
About Emma Wolverson: Emma Wolverson is a clinical psychologist who specialises in working with people living with dementia and their families. Her clinical work has spanned the dementia care pathway from early assessment and diagnosis to end-of-life care. Emma’s research aims to support people with dementia to live well by promoting well-being, reducing stigma and improving care. She is a senior lecturer in ageing and dementia at the University of Hull and programme director for the MSc Dementia.
Overview - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This video is the first in a series of six brief research interviews. Together they tell the story of a small 2018 pilot study, which we believe to be the first primary research specifically on the Alexander Technique in dementia care. Four case studies were conducted in a residential care home: two with residents with dementia and two with care staff.
Origins - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This video is the second in a series of six interviews about a 2018 pilot study looking at the use of the Alexander Technique in residential dementia care. It describes how the study came about, its purposes and the reasons for adopting a case study approach.
About Lesley Glover: Lesley Glover is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull. She is an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist and Health Psychologist. She qualified as an Alexander Technique teacher in 2014 and is a member of the STAT Research Group.
About Charlotte Woods: Charlotte Woods retired from a Senior Lectureship at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester in 2016 after almost forty years of international experience in education. She qualified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique in 2017 and is a member of the STAT Research Group.
Study Design - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This video is the third in a series of six about a 2018 pilot study looking at the use of the Alexander Technique in residential dementia care. It describes the case study approach adopted, the participants (2x residents and 2x care staff), how information and consent were handled and the methods, and tools used for data collection.
Findings - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This video is the fourth in a series of six about a 2018 pilot study looking at the use of the Alexander Technique in residential dementia care. It provides a brief overview of the types of data collected and findings in areas relevant to all four participants: (i) pain management (ii) mobility (iii) mood and (iv) interpersonal relations.
To learn more about the Measure Yourself Medical Outcomes Profile visit: https://www.meaningfulmeasures.co.uk/mym
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Challenges - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This video is the fifth in a series of six about a 2018 pilot study looking at the use of the Alexander Technique in residential dementia care. It sets out some of the challenges of researching within a residential care setting, and of combining the roles of teacher and researcher. It ends with examples of the kind of rewards derived from doing the project.
Follow up - The Alexander Technique in residential dementia care pilot study.
This is the final video in a series of six about a 2018 pilot study looking at the use of the Alexander Technique in residential dementia care. It outlines (i) the main ways in which the project was, and was not, successful and (ii) the work that is ongoing, or has been completed, since the project ended.
Download a simplified PDF of the Article for Journal of Dementia Care
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