Tom Kitwood Memorial Address – The Art of Care: How the study of care aesthetics reveals a new direction for person-centred practices in dementia care
|
|
Plenary 3 |
|
|
Auditorium |
John Keady is Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Older People at The University of Manchester, a post he holds jointly with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. John has been involved in dementia care/studies since the mid-1980s and was the founding co-editor of ‘Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice’. He published his first article in the Journal of Dementia Care in 1995.
James Thompson is Professor of Applied Theatre at the University of Manchester and co-Director of The Care Lab. He has written widely on applied theatre and now researches care aesthetics applied to dementia and other areas of social care. He edited with Amanda Stuart Fisher Performing Care (2020) and his book Care Aesthetics was published in summer 2022.
Jenny Harris is a drama practitioner in Manchester with over 30 years’ experience of working with groups of all ages and abilities using drama and storytelling to promote confidence, well-being, connection and inclusion.
For the last three years, Jenny was the lead artist on the Care Aesthetics project led by Professor James Thompson at the University of Manchester.
Since 2014, Jenny has led on Storybox, a creative project for people living with a dementia and their carers and family. It uses a multi art form approach to encourage togetherness with a focus on being in the moment and celebrating creativity.
She is a member of DCERG (Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group) for Dementia United.
With funding from the Arts Council, Jenny has created an exhibition called ‘Our Long Goodbye’ which explores her and her Mum’s relationship – to each other and to Alzheimer’s - through photos, film and words. Jenny was a finalist for Independent Creative of the Year at Manchester Culture Awards for her work on this exhibition which is touring across the North-West from now till December 2025.
Summary
This year's Tom Kitwood Memorial Address is given by:
John Keady, Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Older People, University of Manchester
James Thompson, Professor of Applied Theatre, University of Manchester
Jenny Harris, freelance drama practitioner