“Wales has been at the forefront of dementia research over an extended period, covering the areas of cause, effects upon the brain and behaviour, cure, care and prevention.”

The Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) is funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales and supports the development and delivery of dementia research, focussing on supportive communities, housing, transport, environments, workplace and loneliness.  CADR has raised awareness of and supports research into cognitive impairment and dementia, in collaboration with the NHS.

This has included the formation of a dedicated multi-discipline Dementia Research Group (based in Swansea), which supports training and knowledge transfer and includes a thriving postgraduate student group.

CADR host, promote and co-ordinate ‘Join Dementia Research’ (JDR) which holds more than 1000 volunteers in Wales. JDR matches volunteers interested in taking part in dementia research with researchers looking for potential participants. JDR offers more opportunities for people with and affected by dementia across Wales to participate, be involved and engaged in research activity and it also enables researchers to connect with a wider reach.

The CADR team at Bangor University established the Caban group; people living with dementia and their carers who regularly work with the research centre and students, contributing to research, undergraduate and post graduate study about what is important to people affected by dementia. Inspired by a research meeting discussing the topic of resilience in dementia, the group proposed a booklet of information would  benefit and boost the resilience of people recently diagnosed with dementia in Wales.  This led to the production of ‘Knowledge is Power’ a bilingual resource to supporting people by sharing experiences, tips and practical advice that may help post-diagnosis. 1000 copies are in distribution around Wales.

Many researchers in Wales work in partnership with service providers from the outset to ensure research findings are implemented in services. For example, Flintshire Social Services now use a workforce development programme as part of their staff training, following their partnership in our research (‘Creative Conversations’) which tested the training in care homes in the county.

The Dementia Action Plan  stated the need to raise awareness and reduce stigma (p10, 31). CADR have consulted with practitioners and the findings were published in an Assembly briefing with recommendations on how to develop reduce inequality in accessing support for Welsh speakers.

CADR also supports the work of the Welsh Governments Welsh Language Dementia Care sub group,  responding to the outcomes from the report by the Alzheimer’s Society and Welsh Language Commissioner

Through the Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) initiative, researchers, staff,  residents and their families can collaborate to contribute to, and benefit from research activities. CADR supports the ENRICH network in Wales, which currently has 22 ‘research ready’ care homes.