Professor Keady, a mental health nurse with a long-standing practice and academic interest in dementia, said: "One of the exciting parts about this 5-year programme is that we are going to work alongside people with dementia and their families to help undertake all aspects of the research, from the planning to the doing. This will lead to the development of new research tools for use by people with dementia and their families and help to create innovative ways of working."
Mike Howorth, who has dementia, is one of the people who will work as a researcher and is already employed by Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust where he works with recently diagnosed patients as the Open Doors Facilitator at Woodlands Hospital, Salford. For the last three years, Open Doors has helped to give people with dementia a voice and platform to share experiences and put forward opinions.
Mr Howorth said: "I think the research programme idea is fantastic! I've got first-hand knowledge of what it's like to live with dementia and help those who have it so I know involving people with dementia and their carers will make this project invaluable."