Professor Charlotte Clarke

Details of Professor Charlotte Clarke's inaugural lecture.

Event details

Lecture title: Phew! For a minute there I lost myself - the experience of living with dementia

Date: Tuesday 23 April 2013

Venue: Auditorium Lecture Theatre, Business School

Lecture abstract

The beginning of the 21st century has seen an increase in the prevalence of dementia and it is now viewed as perhaps being the most significant health crisis of the 21st century (Wellcome Trust 2010). Dementia is a growing global challenge, with the numbers of people living with dementia set to rise sharply in the future - Alzheimer’s Disease International (2012) estimate the number of people living with dementia worldwide is 35.6 million. Associated with this is an increase in health, economic and social care issues in society as a whole, at international, national and community levels.

Dementia is experienced by people in many different ways. It is a physical medical condition but people also experience many changes in their social networks, employment and relationships. The World Health Organisation (2012) emphasise the need to see dementia as a key public health concern. This is very challenging for the development of policy. Policies need to address best medical management, stimulate social change to include people with dementia and tackle raising awareness and combatting ageism and prejudice against mental health.

This lecture will draw on several research projects into risk, resilience and policy in dementia care that Professor Clarke has led over the last decade (e.g. Clarke et al 2011). It will locate service and policy development in the context of exploring identify, purpose, meaning and human rights in living with dementia, and will leave us with some questions about future direction.

References

Alzheimer’s Disease International (2012) World Alzheimer Report 2012: Overcoming the stigma of dementia. London: ADI.

Clarke C.L., Wilkinson H., Keady J. & Gibb C.E. (2011) Risk and Dementia Care: Approaches to Everyday Living. Jessica Kingsley, London.

Wellcome Trust (2010) Alzheimer’s to cost the world economy £388 billion http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2010/News/WTX062728.htm (accessed 31.07.2012)

World Health Organisation (2012) Dementia: a public health priority. London: WHO and ADI.

Lecture video