This hybrid symposium focuses on research into conversational interaction in people living with dementia. Primarily aimed at researchers, PhD students, and health and social care practitioners, the 2-day event will be held at Loughborough University, but with online facilities for those attending remotely, and for anyone whose access needs require remote participation.

Please register on Eventbrite  (note that Eventbrite says the event is ‘online’, but it’s also happening in person at Loughborough).

This symposium is supported by funding from the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness

Programme outline (10-11 November 2022)

Day 1 – Thursday 10 November 2022 (10:00-17:00):

10:00 – Welcome and introductions: Felicity Slocombe

10:30-12:30 – State of the Art Research Presentations part 1: Conversation Analysis (CA) and Dementia

• 4 presentations (approximately 30 minutes) to include presentation, demonstration/replay of audio-visual data, open debate around methods and analytical issues.
  • Danielle Jones – Communicating the risk of dementia.
  • Jenny Paananen – Accounting for the use of restrictions in care negotiation meetings between nursing home staff and family members of residents with dementia
  • Elizabeth Peel – Pawsitivity? Dogs in Dementia Communication
  • Chris Elsey, Alisha Warner & Katie Burnett (hybrid presentation) – Professional sport, concussion, and early-onset dementia

12:30-1:30  – Lunch

13:30-14:30 – Parallel data sessions

• Felicity Slocombe – Photo albums and identity in a specialist dementia care home.
• Danielle Jones – Communicating the risk of dementia.

14:30-15:00 – Break

15:00-15:30 – Co-research with people living with dementia

• Jemima Dooley – What does co-research bring to research?

15:30-17:00 – Tips & Experiences: Communication Training in Dementia Care

• Alison Pilnick, Rebecca O’Brien, Suzanne Beeke and Isabel Windeatt will discuss the VOICE projects.
• Hannah Wheat and Sarah Griffiths (both presenting online) will discuss the D-PACT project. They will discuss the use of conversation analysis, alongside realist evaluation methodology, to inform an evaluation of a complex intervention for people with dementia and carers.
• Suzanne Beeke will discuss the development of the Better Conversations with Aphasia model and lessons learned.

17:00-19:30 – Evening meal provided for in-person attendees free of charge

Day 2 – Friday 11 November 2022 (10:00-15:00):

10:00-12:05 – State of the Art Research Presentations part 2: Conversation Analysis (CA) and Dementia

• 4 presentations (approximately 30 minutes) to include presentation, demonstration/replay of audio-visual data, open debate around methods and analytical issues.
  • Lauren Bridgstock – Use of elderspeak in hospital contexts.
  • Saul Albert – Virtual assistants in smart homecare settings.
  • Pause presentations.

11:00-11:02 – We will have a 2-minute silence for Armistice Day.

• • Resume presentations:
  • Alison Pilnick, Rebecca O’Brien, Suzanne Beeke and Isabel Windeatt – how distress can be managed, avoided or averted in the context of completing necessary care tasks for PLWD.
  • Elin Nilsson (presenting online) – Persuasion in practice: managing diverging stances in assessment meetings with older couples living with dementia.

12:05-12:45 – Lunch

12.45-14:00 – Parallel data sessions

• Rebecca O’Brien, Isabel Windeatt, Alison Pilnick and Suzanne Beeke – Interactional competence of people living with dementia on acute hospital wards
• Lucie Hogger – Interactions around medicines between people living with dementia and their families at home

14:00-15:00 – Future planning

• Opportunities to discuss what happens next:
  • reflections on the event,
  • possible special issues,
  • research collaborations,
  • how to continue the conversation (if at all),
  • funding opportunities.

15:00 – End of event

With special thanks to Chris Elsey and Saul Albert for putting the SHI funding application together.