The Dementia Research Advisory Team (DRAT) are a group of people living with dementia and family caregivers who contribute to dementia research in Ireland in a Person Public Involvement (PPI) capacity. Through collaborating with researchers, they ensure the lived experience of dementia remains central to the research process. Committed to developing and delivering novel and authentic opportunities for research leadership for members of the DRAT, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland have been supporting the DRAT to carry out a research project of their own. The members democratically chose their research topic; “The Impact a diagnosis of dementia has on the person who becomes the caregiver / supporter” investigated the current literature relating to it, designed their method of data collection, created a recruitment poster and have carried out two focus groups.
The next phase of their project is to survey participants on the topic and alongside their Research Assistant Holly Dennehy, write up their work and produce their research output. When inviting new members to join the DRAT, the assurance has always been ‘no experience necessary’ as the lived experience of dementia is what is important. Now, the members of the DRAT are in a position to craft their own research, manage its trajectory and devise its output which is an impressive and commendable achievement. Learn more about the work of the Dementia Research Advisory Team by visiting https://alzheimer.ie/creating-change/research/ppi/
