Everything is going swimmingly at the moment. I have moved back to my home town of Leek and it is fantastic. Friends and family coming out of my ears, the sun always seems to be shining and satisfactory broadband. What more could a woman ask for?
#demphd started over two years ago, we have a reach of about 500,000 people apparently and I now have 2,000 followers on Twitter - all dementia friends. We thought we could start something on Facebook and that has also taken off - now we have over 1,000 members of our 'dementia study group'.
And I am retraining as a dementia therapist. I will qualify in September, in the meantime I am looking for people to be case studies. I'm having amazing results already - it is quite incredible, with people telling me their lives have transformed - after just one session. Please contact me on Twitter @annatatton1 or Facebook - I'm wearing a veil.
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Sunday 26 October 2014
The 24th Alzheimer Europe conference - October 2014, the first real-life meeting of #demphd
Had a wonderful, inspiring and motivational time at #24aec as we called it on Twitter. My great friend Shibley Rahman has written a brilliant blogpost all about it, which I won't match in either quality or quantity here. But I do want a record of the highlights for me so I will not lose track of the actions I will take as a result.
Firstly you go to conferences to meet people in person 'networking' as it is now called. This is very inspirational in itself. It used to be people you had only read their work in books, now it's people who've you've read in books, read their emails and tweeted with and even the odd one or two Facebooked or Linked -inned. We literally had a ball at the 'Gala Dinner'. It was our friend's birthday so the staff made it very special by bringing out a cake and the whole room erupted into singing 'Happy Birthday'. I had some lovely chats.
I may be a bit different to most people - I don't get much out of the 'plenary' sessions. There was a great talk on how human rights should be applied to people with dementia in the huge hall. But I did find, perhaps not with that talk, with 800 people in a room in front of you there are too many distractions and I find myself gazing around wondering if it will be fresh coffee in the break. No, the true inspiration comes from the smaller sessions when you can get eye contact and question the speaker without technological assistance.
Following the end of my PhD studies, I have found myself with a passion for wellbeing and dementia, so I was very drawn by three presentations in particular. Jane Youell was the first such presenter, her work was on sexuality, intimacy and living with dementia. Helen Irwin then explored humour and dementia. Kirsty Patterson covered personal growth and dementia. I am determined to follow these up and refer to their research. I was and am excited again!
Art and dementia was an inspiring session too, as was ethics. 'It's complicated' was what I learned about the application of ethics. I find that my views are often cemented in this way at conferences.
Perhaps the most intriguing and questionable session was sponsored by the 'Institute for the Scientific Information on Coffee' and yes, you've guessed it, coffee 'proved' to stave off dementia. By this time I was so desperate for coffee I didn't bother to ask the question 'how much is the Institute of Coffee paying you to say that.?' After my education earlier, my ethical stance felt suitably justified. But seriously, one person did ask the question about the side effects of coffee and the speaker had the tenacity to say they weren't proven. Well not by the Institute for Coffee anyway.
Lastly and by no means least we had the first in-real-life meeting of #demphd, the international Twitter network that myself and Julie Christie set up nearly two years ago, that we have written about and appears to go from strength to strength. The summary of what we need to do to improve it over the coming months and years is: plan better in advance (get hosts booked weeks rather than minutes in advance), make the website better (put out tweets on it for example), cross fertilise with Facebook and Linked in, make sure we are focusing on the research aspect to topics, where the research gaps are, have a clear focus, good outcomes. We need to ask the prominent journals if they want to cohost, we need to tweet from conferences. In short we need Terms of Reference and a Business Plan.
No rest for the wicked! And the next big thing is the Dementia Congress which I must book onto this week. See you there!
@annatatton1
Firstly you go to conferences to meet people in person 'networking' as it is now called. This is very inspirational in itself. It used to be people you had only read their work in books, now it's people who've you've read in books, read their emails and tweeted with and even the odd one or two Facebooked or Linked -inned. We literally had a ball at the 'Gala Dinner'. It was our friend's birthday so the staff made it very special by bringing out a cake and the whole room erupted into singing 'Happy Birthday'. I had some lovely chats.
I may be a bit different to most people - I don't get much out of the 'plenary' sessions. There was a great talk on how human rights should be applied to people with dementia in the huge hall. But I did find, perhaps not with that talk, with 800 people in a room in front of you there are too many distractions and I find myself gazing around wondering if it will be fresh coffee in the break. No, the true inspiration comes from the smaller sessions when you can get eye contact and question the speaker without technological assistance.
Following the end of my PhD studies, I have found myself with a passion for wellbeing and dementia, so I was very drawn by three presentations in particular. Jane Youell was the first such presenter, her work was on sexuality, intimacy and living with dementia. Helen Irwin then explored humour and dementia. Kirsty Patterson covered personal growth and dementia. I am determined to follow these up and refer to their research. I was and am excited again!
Art and dementia was an inspiring session too, as was ethics. 'It's complicated' was what I learned about the application of ethics. I find that my views are often cemented in this way at conferences.
Perhaps the most intriguing and questionable session was sponsored by the 'Institute for the Scientific Information on Coffee' and yes, you've guessed it, coffee 'proved' to stave off dementia. By this time I was so desperate for coffee I didn't bother to ask the question 'how much is the Institute of Coffee paying you to say that.?' After my education earlier, my ethical stance felt suitably justified. But seriously, one person did ask the question about the side effects of coffee and the speaker had the tenacity to say they weren't proven. Well not by the Institute for Coffee anyway.
Lastly and by no means least we had the first in-real-life meeting of #demphd, the international Twitter network that myself and Julie Christie set up nearly two years ago, that we have written about and appears to go from strength to strength. The summary of what we need to do to improve it over the coming months and years is: plan better in advance (get hosts booked weeks rather than minutes in advance), make the website better (put out tweets on it for example), cross fertilise with Facebook and Linked in, make sure we are focusing on the research aspect to topics, where the research gaps are, have a clear focus, good outcomes. We need to ask the prominent journals if they want to cohost, we need to tweet from conferences. In short we need Terms of Reference and a Business Plan.
No rest for the wicked! And the next big thing is the Dementia Congress which I must book onto this week. See you there!
@annatatton1
Friday 17 October 2014
A year since Mum died
It is a year and a day since Mum died and I know that she would be so proud of me today. I can officially announce that I have started work with the Alzheimer's Society - their Training and Consultancy arm - as a Dementia Trainer. Mum had breast cancer, not dementia though. The care and services she got towards the end of her life were outstanding, particularly the hospice care. It is this sort of service and care that I want to see for everyone at the end of their lives which is why I am so enjoying my new roles, as I am in a privileged position being able to train people about how we can help people with dementia live well with the condition. I am not just working at the Alzheimer's Society as this is a part time temporary role but also working for myself, as a consultant, on the latest research on social media, co-production, innovation and quality. I do hope though that my relationship with the Alzheimer's Society is a long and fruitful one - together we are stronger is my belief.
Thank you for your support...
Next week I am going to the Alzheimer Europe conference where for the first time I will be meeting the inspirational Julie Christie who has helped me so much over the past two years. Karen Watchman, Clarissa Giebel and Nathan Davies will be there - great contributors to the phenomenon that is #demphd on Twitter, that myself and Julie set up nearly two years ago. I will also be meeting Caroline Bartle, another incredible innovative whirlwind, another tweep that I now consider a true friend, she knows me so well - we are staying in the same place so hopefully those creativity juices will get going and we'll be changing the world together!
There are a lot of people that I need to thank who have been there for me through this difficult decade, who would not like their names published on the internet. But I am thanking you now - you know who you are. And with your support and despite the problems, health issues, deaths and hiccups we have achieved, together, quite a lot. Long may life continue!
Thank you for your support...
Next week I am going to the Alzheimer Europe conference where for the first time I will be meeting the inspirational Julie Christie who has helped me so much over the past two years. Karen Watchman, Clarissa Giebel and Nathan Davies will be there - great contributors to the phenomenon that is #demphd on Twitter, that myself and Julie set up nearly two years ago. I will also be meeting Caroline Bartle, another incredible innovative whirlwind, another tweep that I now consider a true friend, she knows me so well - we are staying in the same place so hopefully those creativity juices will get going and we'll be changing the world together!
There are a lot of people that I need to thank who have been there for me through this difficult decade, who would not like their names published on the internet. But I am thanking you now - you know who you are. And with your support and despite the problems, health issues, deaths and hiccups we have achieved, together, quite a lot. Long may life continue!
Friday 16 May 2014
Picking a good care home - 14 tips
I have updated my advice on how to select a care home from two years ago: The most difficult aspect to caring in my experience is the transition from home to institution, especially if that institution is not up to scratch, how do you know when it is the right place for your loved one?
1) Having a Variety of Enterprises
Having been an activities coordinator and care home manager myself, I consider this to be the most important aspect to a caring environment, be it hospital, hospice, care home or your own home. These are activities that are suitable for the individual, if possible tailored to that individual's needs. You or your loved one might enjoy chatting, socialising, walking, looking at the garden, playing games, music - make sure you know the activities that you think you or your loved one will enjoy. Then ensure that the environment that you are moving to enables you to experience those activities. Here is a list of 101 activities from the US that people with dementia may enjoy. Try to draw up your own comprehensive list for yourself or your loved one.
2) Manager
Meet up with the care home manager. They should be a registered nurse and be caring, flexible and friendly. If the staff are happy then the residents normally are too.
3) Well cared for and clean residents, well dressed in clothes that fit with hearing aids on and glasses on. When you look round the place be observant and see if people are smiling and having fun.
4) Care Quality Commission reports. Go to the CQC website. I think the CQC are petrified of getting sued, so sometimes it is difficult to tell from reading a report if a home is good or bad. So you may get more mileage out of these other tips above and below.
5) Gut instinct. Would you or your loved one fit in well in this place? As you look round try to picture them in the environment, and with the staff and other residents. We know from the latest research that emotional memories (which come from the Amygdala ) are the last to go, the Hippocampus memories which are factual and logic are the first to go, so feelings are particularly important in dementia care. This is what Tom Kitwood talked about when he described person centred care.
6) Smiling staff. At good homes both the residents and the staff are smiling.
7) Food. Ask to look at the menus and taste the food. If you don't find it appetising then why would someone with dementia?
8) Time of day. If you can visit the care home at different times of day. 9am, lunchtime and 5pm. See how they manage 'shift changes'.
9) Flexibility. The place should be flexible - according to the needs, requirements and wishes of its residents. Some people prefer to retire to their rooms - does the activity coordinator do a tour of the building to include everyone and talk to people when they're on their own if that's what they want?
10) Training. Ask to see training records. It is a good sign if they have implemented Dementia Care Mapping for example.
11) Smell. It is a good sign if there are nice smells emanating from the place. Added together with the other tips on this list then it should help put your mind at rest that the place is well managed.
12) Go for lunch. The management should be keen to show off their good food.
13) Go for the day, ask to volunteer to help out. Again they should welcome you with open arms. If it's a positive experience then you're on to a winner.
14) Ask for help. If you need help picking a care home for someone with dementia in the UK, then please give me a ring on 07969 204955 or email annatatt{at}Hotmail[dot]com. You can also find me on Facebook - I'm wearing my wedding veil or Twitter @annatatton1.
1) Having a Variety of Enterprises
Having been an activities coordinator and care home manager myself, I consider this to be the most important aspect to a caring environment, be it hospital, hospice, care home or your own home. These are activities that are suitable for the individual, if possible tailored to that individual's needs. You or your loved one might enjoy chatting, socialising, walking, looking at the garden, playing games, music - make sure you know the activities that you think you or your loved one will enjoy. Then ensure that the environment that you are moving to enables you to experience those activities. Here is a list of 101 activities from the US that people with dementia may enjoy. Try to draw up your own comprehensive list for yourself or your loved one.
2) Manager
Meet up with the care home manager. They should be a registered nurse and be caring, flexible and friendly. If the staff are happy then the residents normally are too.
3) Well cared for and clean residents, well dressed in clothes that fit with hearing aids on and glasses on. When you look round the place be observant and see if people are smiling and having fun.
4) Care Quality Commission reports. Go to the CQC website. I think the CQC are petrified of getting sued, so sometimes it is difficult to tell from reading a report if a home is good or bad. So you may get more mileage out of these other tips above and below.
5) Gut instinct. Would you or your loved one fit in well in this place? As you look round try to picture them in the environment, and with the staff and other residents. We know from the latest research that emotional memories (which come from the Amygdala ) are the last to go, the Hippocampus memories which are factual and logic are the first to go, so feelings are particularly important in dementia care. This is what Tom Kitwood talked about when he described person centred care.
6) Smiling staff. At good homes both the residents and the staff are smiling.
7) Food. Ask to look at the menus and taste the food. If you don't find it appetising then why would someone with dementia?
8) Time of day. If you can visit the care home at different times of day. 9am, lunchtime and 5pm. See how they manage 'shift changes'.
9) Flexibility. The place should be flexible - according to the needs, requirements and wishes of its residents. Some people prefer to retire to their rooms - does the activity coordinator do a tour of the building to include everyone and talk to people when they're on their own if that's what they want?
10) Training. Ask to see training records. It is a good sign if they have implemented Dementia Care Mapping for example.
11) Smell. It is a good sign if there are nice smells emanating from the place. Added together with the other tips on this list then it should help put your mind at rest that the place is well managed.
12) Go for lunch. The management should be keen to show off their good food.
13) Go for the day, ask to volunteer to help out. Again they should welcome you with open arms. If it's a positive experience then you're on to a winner.
14) Ask for help. If you need help picking a care home for someone with dementia in the UK, then please give me a ring on 07969 204955 or email annatatt{at}Hotmail[dot]com. You can also find me on Facebook - I'm wearing my wedding veil or Twitter @annatatton1.
Saturday 3 August 2013
How to use twitter - a guide for phd students
1) Follow the right people. You have already decided that the reason you want to use twitter is to advance your learning and your studies, to do this it is best to follow people with similar intentions. If you're wondering how you find out who these people are then go to the relevant 'chat' pages;
2) Engage in a relevant chat - use the right hashtag (#). The hashtag symbol (#) is like a tagged conversation, so you carry on a conversation using the hashtag (#) symbol to identify it. Type in at the top of the twitter screen (once you have registered - using your real name) a relevant twitter chat hashtag: #phdchat, #phdforum, #socphd (social sciences), #acwri (academic writing) & #ecrchat (early career researcher).
3) Spend an afternoon following people. You can always unfollow, and you can follow up to 2,000 people before twitter blocks you from following people. This takes about an afternoon to click on follow for that many people - I recommend you do this from looking at the people contributing to the chats, then follow the people who are following them, after reading their profiles - aim to follow other academics and PhD students. Look at how many tweets people have done - the more they have chances are they are more experienced and so you'll have more to learn from them.
4) Start your own chat. I would say practice on existing chats first (as 2) - for about a month or so then for your topic area, if there isn't already a chat existing (check http://www.thechatdiary.com/ ). Get together with some like minded people you met on twitter through 1) and 2) - send them direct messages if necessary and chat to them on the phone or Skype. Your topic might have another hashtag or several. Decide on a day, a unique hashtag title and a time and hey presto - you're started!
5) Get some support By this stage hopefully you will have at least one supporter or collaborator, you can help bounce ideas off each other. You've got your topic now, all you need is a discussion theme every week or two and you're off! Themes for weekly discussion are probably common to most PhDs so could be: Literature Review; Conceptual Framework; Methods; Results; Discussion; Analysis; Motivation and Procrastination.
6) Start a website or blog based on your chat. Wordpress is probably the best blogging site - you just need a unique name for your site and get going. You can shorten your blogposts using https://bitly.com/ and then post the links on twitter - using your chat hashtag from 4) above. Send direct messages to those people who contributed to your chat to promote the website.
7) Celebrate milestones. For example once your chat is 6 months old you can promote that and put on your website (6) all the achievements of your chat.
2) Engage in a relevant chat - use the right hashtag (#). The hashtag symbol (#) is like a tagged conversation, so you carry on a conversation using the hashtag (#) symbol to identify it. Type in at the top of the twitter screen (once you have registered - using your real name) a relevant twitter chat hashtag: #phdchat, #phdforum, #socphd (social sciences), #acwri (academic writing) & #ecrchat (early career researcher).
3) Spend an afternoon following people. You can always unfollow, and you can follow up to 2,000 people before twitter blocks you from following people. This takes about an afternoon to click on follow for that many people - I recommend you do this from looking at the people contributing to the chats, then follow the people who are following them, after reading their profiles - aim to follow other academics and PhD students. Look at how many tweets people have done - the more they have chances are they are more experienced and so you'll have more to learn from them.
4) Start your own chat. I would say practice on existing chats first (as 2) - for about a month or so then for your topic area, if there isn't already a chat existing (check http://www.thechatdiary.com/ ). Get together with some like minded people you met on twitter through 1) and 2) - send them direct messages if necessary and chat to them on the phone or Skype. Your topic might have another hashtag or several. Decide on a day, a unique hashtag title and a time and hey presto - you're started!
5) Get some support By this stage hopefully you will have at least one supporter or collaborator, you can help bounce ideas off each other. You've got your topic now, all you need is a discussion theme every week or two and you're off! Themes for weekly discussion are probably common to most PhDs so could be: Literature Review; Conceptual Framework; Methods; Results; Discussion; Analysis; Motivation and Procrastination.
6) Start a website or blog based on your chat. Wordpress is probably the best blogging site - you just need a unique name for your site and get going. You can shorten your blogposts using https://bitly.com/ and then post the links on twitter - using your chat hashtag from 4) above. Send direct messages to those people who contributed to your chat to promote the website.
7) Celebrate milestones. For example once your chat is 6 months old you can promote that and put on your website (6) all the achievements of your chat.
Saturday 29 June 2013
Mrs Motivator's emergency 7 point kit
1) Have a break. If you're worried that you've already had too long a break then...
2) Write a plan. Scribble down the tasks you need to do on a piece of paper and put timescales on them, put a time/day next to it. What are you going to do? What task or activity? When are you going to do it? For how long? How often? Do you have a contingency plan? Can you share the plan with others to help motivate you?
3) Use a timer. Work for one minute on the most difficult task - break the back of it.
4) Reward yourself with free treats - stick to it, be consistent with yourself.
5) Have a list of your top ten motivators to hand- people preferably still alive that you can talk to personally to help motivate you when you need it. Can you ring them now? Use motivational chats as free treats.
6) Dissect your demotivation: What has caused it? What got you out of it in the past? The same things will work this time.
7) Pick motivational quotes and stick them on your computer monitor - preferably personalised to you - Good feedback? Stick it on your monitor.
2) Write a plan. Scribble down the tasks you need to do on a piece of paper and put timescales on them, put a time/day next to it. What are you going to do? What task or activity? When are you going to do it? For how long? How often? Do you have a contingency plan? Can you share the plan with others to help motivate you?
3) Use a timer. Work for one minute on the most difficult task - break the back of it.
4) Reward yourself with free treats - stick to it, be consistent with yourself.
5) Have a list of your top ten motivators to hand- people preferably still alive that you can talk to personally to help motivate you when you need it. Can you ring them now? Use motivational chats as free treats.
6) Dissect your demotivation: What has caused it? What got you out of it in the past? The same things will work this time.
7) Pick motivational quotes and stick them on your computer monitor - preferably personalised to you - Good feedback? Stick it on your monitor.
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Twenty points to tick off daily for a happy life as a PhDer
1) Are you prioritising your mental and physical health? Without good health you can't do anything so...
2) Take regular breaks - for breakfast, lunch and dinner for example. Take care of number 1) - nobody else will.
3) Practice deep breathing - breathe counting to seven in and eleven out - 7/11 easy to remember and you can do it anytime, any place and anywhere. Essentially this is what meditation is.
4) Try to write something everyday, even a to do list will do. But if you don't, then don't beat yourself up about it. Free time is thinking time which is very important too.
5) Put some very easy things on your to-do list that you can tick off - the ticking off will help you feel better.
6) Break tasks down into do-able chunks and put time scales next to them - of how long they take. You can plan your day like this.
7) Read something.
8) Foster a positive relationship with your supervisor - try to act on their feedback and report back to them. If this is problematic then...
9) Ask for advice and help from other sources to get you back on track. Is there a reason why the relationship has been upset? Are you ill? Do you need a break? - go back to 1).
10) Do the most difficult thing on your to do list first. If you can't do this, then
11) Do a few very easy things on your to-do list - ask advice about the difficult thing.
12) If you are having problems on a task or issue - can you have some training on it? Book yourself on some training.
13) Tidy your desk. Sounds small, but always makes me feel so much better! Do it three times daily if necessary.
14) Do some filing. Follows from 13), just grouping your references together in their themes can help to increase your confidence - that you know what they say.
15) Play to your strengths. If you're a morning person then have an early night and get up early. If you're a night owl then stay up late and lie in! You know when you work best, plan your most difficult tasks for that time.
16) Give yourself free treats - whatever floats your boat for the tasks that you complete daily. Have you given yourself one today? Plan what time to do it to increase your motivation. Perhaps a cup of tea for a paragraph.
17) Stay connected with friends and family - best in person, then Skype, then phone, then email.
18) Get support from twitter and the internet to help keep you motivated - look at #phdchat #phdforum #ecrchat and #acwri on twitter.
19) Reward yourself with motivational chats from suitable friends and family, get them to keep you on track
20) Have some exercise - adrenalin and endorphins keeps us going in the darkest of times.
2) Take regular breaks - for breakfast, lunch and dinner for example. Take care of number 1) - nobody else will.
3) Practice deep breathing - breathe counting to seven in and eleven out - 7/11 easy to remember and you can do it anytime, any place and anywhere. Essentially this is what meditation is.
4) Try to write something everyday, even a to do list will do. But if you don't, then don't beat yourself up about it. Free time is thinking time which is very important too.
5) Put some very easy things on your to-do list that you can tick off - the ticking off will help you feel better.
6) Break tasks down into do-able chunks and put time scales next to them - of how long they take. You can plan your day like this.
7) Read something.
8) Foster a positive relationship with your supervisor - try to act on their feedback and report back to them. If this is problematic then...
9) Ask for advice and help from other sources to get you back on track. Is there a reason why the relationship has been upset? Are you ill? Do you need a break? - go back to 1).
10) Do the most difficult thing on your to do list first. If you can't do this, then
11) Do a few very easy things on your to-do list - ask advice about the difficult thing.
12) If you are having problems on a task or issue - can you have some training on it? Book yourself on some training.
13) Tidy your desk. Sounds small, but always makes me feel so much better! Do it three times daily if necessary.
14) Do some filing. Follows from 13), just grouping your references together in their themes can help to increase your confidence - that you know what they say.
15) Play to your strengths. If you're a morning person then have an early night and get up early. If you're a night owl then stay up late and lie in! You know when you work best, plan your most difficult tasks for that time.
16) Give yourself free treats - whatever floats your boat for the tasks that you complete daily. Have you given yourself one today? Plan what time to do it to increase your motivation. Perhaps a cup of tea for a paragraph.
17) Stay connected with friends and family - best in person, then Skype, then phone, then email.
18) Get support from twitter and the internet to help keep you motivated - look at #phdchat #phdforum #ecrchat and #acwri on twitter.
19) Reward yourself with motivational chats from suitable friends and family, get them to keep you on track
20) Have some exercise - adrenalin and endorphins keeps us going in the darkest of times.
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