
Dr Alys Griffiths
Name:
Dr Alys Griffiths
Job Title:
Lecturer and Research Tutor
Place of work / study:
The University of Liverpool
Area of Research:
Care and support for people with dementia and their families
How is your work funded:
Mainly NIHR, also smaller local funders including Leeds Jewish Welfare Board and Carers Leeds.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am an early career researcher, having graduated with a PhD in Psychology in July 2015. My PhD investigated the impact of defeat and entrapment on mental health problems amongst people from areas of socioeconomic deprivation. This led to an additional study looking at these issues amongst formal caregivers (people working in care homes). As I spent more time in care homes, conducting the research but also leading music workshops in the care homes, I realised how much I enjoyed being in care homes. I then applied for a research position working on the EPIC trial, which aimed to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Dementia Care Mapping, and have worked in dementia research ever since!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I have never eaten a pie! (Ed. Are you sure you live in Yorkshire?!)
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
I have a grandmother living with dementia and wanted to understand more about what her life might be like, as I saw my family having to adapt to a situation we really knew nothing about. The majority of my family worked in healthcare when I grew up and I knew I wanted to work in that sector somehow! When I was doing my PhD and enjoyed being in care homes so much, that narrowed my search slightly.