USask research contributes to book on living well with dementia

Dr. Megan O’Connell (PhD), professor in the Department of Psychology and Health Studies in USask’s College of Arts and Science, clinical psychologist at the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic in the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH), and co-investigator of the Rural Dementia Action Research (RaDAR) program, is a co-author on the book.

The book offers guidance and understanding about different aspects of dementia and is written for people living with it and those in their support network, including family and friends, health and social care professionals, and those whose lives are touched by dementia.

O’Connell’s experience with her grandfather set her on the path to studying clinical psychology and dementia.

“I’m always struck by how individual each person’s journey is, and how unique their family experiences are,” she said. “Commonalities exist, clearly, but each person is so unique. I get the privilege of being reminded of this on a regular basis.”

“Research tends to gloss over these individual differences,” she added. “We focus on averages or themes across experiences, and in doing so, I think we lose a lot of information.”

The co-authored book provides both academic and lived experience insight through a Q&A framework. The book’s organization gives readers both practical information and examples alongside expert explanations. All of the co-authors came to understand or study dementia as a result of personal connection.

International and community-based co-authors of the book include: Dr. Anthea Innes (PhD), professor in Health Aging and Society, director of the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging and the Gilbrea Research Chair in Aging and Mental Health at McMaster University and a RaDAR co-investigator; Carmel Geoghegan, creator of Dementia Ireland Empowering Communities and former care partner for her mother; and Phyllis Fehr, a person living with dementia in Ontario Canada, Gilbrea Dementia Share Group member, and international dementia advocate and speaker.

“The thing that continues to surprise me is the negative reception people living with dementia receive from others,” said Innes. “Yet the pleasant surprises outweigh this – the things that people do to enable themselves to live well with dementia, the strategies and tactics they employ to enable them to still function at home, go out in the community, maintain their relationships and how others are creative in supporting those things – these are the inspiring moments.”

Every chapter of the book had insight and contributions from all four authors, providing research, clinical and lived experiences.

“We worked so well together,” O’Connell said. “Our skills were so complementary which helped to make a fully rounded book.”

When asked what they hope people might learn from, or remember, after reading their book, O’Connell’s desire is that readers “will understand how to hope.”

“Living with dementia is possible,” she said. “There are so many possibilities to maintain quality of life, remain active and engaged, and experience love for and from those around you.”

The book is available at routledge.com.