The mission of the Helen Carswell Chair in Dementia Care is to to maximize the quality of life for all individuals living with dementia, their family/friend caregivers, and quality of work-life of their care staff by evaluating and improving the effects of dementia care programs (e.g., adult day programs, respite services, other models of dementia care) on individuals with dementia, their family/friend caregivers, and the health system. Our vision is a society in which all people living with dementia and their caregivers receive the supports they need in order to enjoy the best possible quality of life.
“My main goal over the past few years was a simple one, that Helen will never be forgotten”
– Dr. Allan Carswell
Dear reader,
I am honoured and excited to serve as the Helen Carswell Chair in Dementia Care. As a nurse, I have always been passionate to improve the lives of those living with dementia, their family/friend caregivers, and their paid care providers. Over the course of a five-year term, I conduct research that will contribute to this vision and mission.
In my research, I partner closely with a large, interdisciplinary team of international researchers and trainees, as well as with persons with lived experience (older adults living with dementia and their families/friends), their advocates (e.g., Alzheimer Societies, Family Caregivers Organizations), knowledge users (day program staff, managers, operators, and health policy decision makers). This interdisciplinary and partnered approach to research ensures my research is meaningful and impactful to those most affected by it, and it maximizes its potential to influence policy and practice.
In collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of York Region, York University, University of Alberta, health policy decision makers, dementia and family/friend caregiver advocates, and individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, we work to honor the legacy of Helen Carswell by making a difference in the lives of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Sincerely,
Matthias Hoben
Funded by the Carswell Family Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Helen Carswell Chair in Dementia Care collaborates with numerous partners to generate much-needed evidence and to improve the quality of life for both, individuals living with dementia, and their family/friend caregivers. These partners include:
