PhD student Oliver Kelsey

Oliver's project is focusing on:

How having serious mental illness and dementia can affect a person's health and social care needs

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at a higher risk of developing dementia, yet there is limited understanding of how these conditions relate or how best to deliver care.

Tell us about your research

The research aims to bring together existing evidence on effective care approaches, identify gaps in knowledge and explore the lived experiences of people with both SMI and dementia. These real-life perspectives on people's priorities and challenges will help us guide future improvements in services, research and policy. 

This research aims to improve understanding of how these conditions interact to ensure people receive the right care, at the right time,

What impact do you hope your work will have for people affected by dementia? 

As the population ages, more people will live with both serious mental illness and dementia, yet their needs are often overlooked. Ultimately, this research aims raise awareness among professionals of the unique challenges this group faces, and ensure that people living with both SMI and dementia receive more coordinated, person-centred care that enhances their quality of life. 

What excites you most about your PhD journey?

I have a personal connection to dementia through my grandparents, which, combined with a longstanding interest in psychology and in particular cognition and memory, has furthered my growing passion for dementia research. 

I am excited to work on a project that brings together two areas which I am passionate about, dementia and mental health. Having worked on projects which focused independently on dementia or mental health as a research assistant, I am looking forward to developing my own projects which link these areas.

The opportunity to develop my research skills throughout the project, learning and applying new methodologies, is also particularly exciting. 

How does it feel to be part of the I-CARE Doctoral Training Centre? 

To me, being part of the Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care means joining a community with a shared mission to improve our understanding of dementia and enhance care for those affected at all stages.

The DTC provides a supportive and collaborative environment in which I can continue to grow as a researcher while contributing to this wider goal. 

Having previously attended the Alzheimer’s Society Early Career Researcher Day, I have already experienced how inspiring it is to be part of Alzheimer’s Society and connect with others who share the same passion and commitment to advancing dementia research and care.