ABSTRACT
Creating better lives for and with people living with dementia, where people living with dementia can flourish, demands creativity, imagination, bravery, and social change.
Failing to acknowledge the challenges we face in doing this will lead to a failure in our attempts to do so. We need to challenge and disrupt assumptions, attitudes, norms and practices, creating cultures that are “fairer, more equal, more kind” (Stodd, 2016, p7), where everyone can flourish. This requires a more responsible type of leadership; “Social Leadership”; characterised by humility, curiosity, a willingness to learn, and to fight bravely for what is right (Stodd, 2016).
bold is a creative, innovative Social Leadership project, delivered by Queen Margaret and Edinburgh Universities, funded by the Life Changes Trust. It brings together people living with dementia in different ways on an equal footing. It provides opportunities for people to develop their social leadership skills and flourish as leaders in dementia and make communities places where people living with dementia can flourish too.
This presentation focuses on the significant impact that bold has made in the development of social leaders in dementia and the impact they have made in their own communities since the project launched in 2019.
PRESENTER BIO
Having spent many years leading music workshops for people living with dementia, Dr Frankie Greenwood has a strong interest in how connections between people with and without the ability to use words to communicate develop in creative ways. Her PhD research explored the experience of making meaningful connections with people with advanced dementia, and has brought deep insight into how relationships between people with and without dementia can flourish throughout the dementia journey. As a bold Project Facilitator, Dr Greenwood is committed to the ongoing development of fully inclusive communities, and creating spaces where people living with dementia can flourish.
Professor Brendan McCormack's work has always focused on person-centred practice, gerontological nursing, and practice development. This research has resulted in successful long-term collaborations in Ireland, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Slovenia and South Africa. He is particularly interested in the use of arts and creativity in healthcare research and development.
VIDEO ABSTRACT