Clare Crew
PhD Student
School of Allied Health and Community
Association for Dementia Studies
email: crec2_23@uni.worc.ac.uk
tel: 07789245838
Clare is a part-time PhD student in the Association for Dementia Studies, School of Allied Health and Community. Her studentship research project is “Development and evaluation of a ‘best housing’ assessment tool for people living with dementia in extra care housing”. Clare’s supervision team is led by Dr. Julie Barrett (Director of Studies), with Dr Mary O’Malley, and Dr. Rebecca Oatley (Cardiff University). The PhD Studentship is co-funded by Extracare Charitable Trust.
“I have had a ‘portfolio’ career with several years spent in support roles in schools from Nursery to Sixth Form to complement being a Mum to four children. During my first degree in Theology and Religious studies (2017) I developed an interest in community education and development. My dissertation project used Laurie Green’s Theological Spiral to consider how informal learning and transformative learning techniques could be beneficial to discipleship in church communities. I subsequently worked as a Mission Enabler with children and families in the Diocese of Worcester.My interest in dementia and dementia research stems from the lived experience of accompanying my mother on a journey living with Dementia with Lewy Bodies. At the same time, I undertook a master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Gloucestershire. My dissertation project aimed to predict a model of Covid Vaccine Hesitancy during the pandemic. This highlighted statistically significant influences of Trust (-), Affective Empathy (-), and Anthropomorphism (+).Having completed my studies, I started volunteering and later working at a Meeting Centre for people living with dementia. I also supported Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Sessions for those recently diagnosed with dementia. These experiences further encouraged a passion to support people to live well with dementia and I became familiar with the varied research projects and influence of the Association for Dementia Studies. I recognise the value and need for research methods to be accessible and inclusive to different perspectives, including those of who are ‘experts’ through living with dementia and ‘family’ carers.
The findings of this PhD research project will contribute to understanding more fully the nuanced complexities of making decisions about the optimal time for ‘next steps’ in housing and care for people living with dementia in extra care housing. Key messages will be communicated to a range of providers, policy makers, and commissioners through existing networks with the Association for Dementia Studies, including the Housing and Dementia Research Consortium, the Dementia and Housing Working Group, and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network.