PhD Student Alistair Shields from Queen Margaret University is recruiting volunteers for a research study on understanding why people living with dementia choose to go where they go when they travel. Find out more about Alistair’s research and how to get involved below.
Are you a person, family member, carer, or supporter of someone who is living with dementia? Does the person living with dementia make their own travel choices? Would they be interested in joining a research project exploring their travels?
I am Alistair Shields a retired police officer and a PhD candidate with the Queen Margaret University Centre for Person-centred Practice Research.
An aim of my study is to help improve the ways in which the police find a person living with dementia who is reported as missing. As part of the study, I am exploring the reasons of people living with dementia who undertake local independent travel finding out what gives purpose to their travels.
I am looking to recruit volunteers to participate in this study. Volunteers should be living with dementia, be active and able to travel around independently such as for shopping, attending appointments, or exercise. The study involves:
- Volunteers taking photographs, in their own time, of something (e.g., a building, a place, activity, etc) that show what is inspiring their travel.
- Selecting some of the pictures with the researcher to discuss in detail their travels.
- Volunteers then explaining how the selected pictures stand for the reason for travel.
The study has the potential to raise sensitive topics. Should this cause distress I will offer the volunteer a breathing space from discussions, and a chance to debrief. They will also be offered an opportunity to access wider support.
To find out more email me at ashields@qmu.ac.uk and I will provide further information.
The QMU Division of Nursing, Paramedic Science, Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies Ethics Panel has granted ethical approval for this research.