Alzheimer's Society Research Fellow July 2018 - Present

Senior Research Associate on the PERFECTED Study, UEA (Feb 2014 - June 2016: Research Associate; July 2016 - June 2018: Senior Research Associate)

Senior Research Associate (Dementia), UEA (April 2016 - February 2018)

Senior Research Associate on the RReACH Study, UEA (July 2014 - March 2016)

Associate Tutor (Sept 2014 - September 2015)

PhD, The management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in care homes, University of East Anglia (2010 - 2014)

MA Sociological Research, Essex University (2009 - 2010)

BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology (1st class), University Campus Suffolk (2006 - 2009)

Tamara has extensive experience of working as a paid carer with older and/or vulnerable adults. Her research interests include: improving the lives of older people receiving care, care strategies, dementia care, care homes, home care, and risk. 

Current Research:

Alzheimer's Society Junior Fellowship Reducing resistiveness - and enhancing engagement - in personal care in severe dementia (Pro-CARE)

This study examines personal care delivery in the later stages of dementia to gain understanding about reducing refusals of care. Mixed methods are being used to:

• Determine the relationships between resistiveness-to-care and caregiver, patient and environmental factors

• Gain understanding of the knowledge and skills care-home staff and family carers have for providing personal care in severe dementia

Key stakeholders will be involved in developing the findings to produce training and guidance with the aim of enhancing personal care interactions

NIHR ARC/CLAHRC East of England Home-Care Workers/Dementia

This research aims to explore home-care worker's experiences of providing assistance with personal care to people with dementia. The study involves undertaking qualitative interviews with home-care workers.

Past experience:

Senior Research Associate on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded “PERFECTED” (Peri-operative Enhanced Recovery hip FracturE Care of paTiEnts with Dementia) research programme. This programme of research has made use of participatory qualitative methods to develop an enhanced recovery pathway to facilitate better acute hospital care for patients with dementia who break their hip. Qualitative methods were used to develop an intervention. A feasibility trial of the intervention was undertaken and Tamara conducted the mixed methods process evaluation of the trial.

Senior Research Associate working on dementia research including conducting a systematic review examining dementia-related behavioural crises.

Senior Research Associate on the RReACH (Residents REsearch Active in Care Homes) Study. This study was funded by the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research & Care: East of England (CLAHRC). The RReACH study prioritised the active involvement of older adults in the research process. The study aimed to determine key research practice messages to inform guidance and recommendations on successful collaborative research involving older care home residents. This was be achieved by using patient and public involvement (PPI) throughout the research process: a systematic review and focus groups examining care home residents' involvement in research.

PhD research: Strategies used in care homes to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Methods: A postal survey of 747 care homes and four in-depth case studies in care homes, which included: interviews with care home staff, participant observations, and the mapping of residents’ psychotropic medication administration records. Findings: Multiple implicit and explicit care strategies, non-pharmacological interventions, and psychotropic medications were used concurrently in care homes to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Formal non-pharmacological interventions were predominantly used, and viewed, by staff as activities for all residents and not targeted at the management of behaviours. The risks and impacts of behaviours posed challenges for care staff. The continuous delivery of person-centred care was found to be difficult in communal settings where care workers must constantly negotiate competing demands, risks and organisational constraints.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Dementia Knowledge Exchange peer reviewer network member

INTERDEM Member

Reviewer for NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) and Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programmes 

Reviewer for the Dunhill Medical Trust

Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD) Jan 2018 - Dec 2018

Awards:

Alzheimer's Society 'Rising Star in Dementia Research' runner up award: 19th May 2017

Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence 'Outstanding Reviewer' 2017