INNOVATIONS IN DEMENTIA - Key Persons
Damian is particularly interested in the promotion of relationship-centred approaches and is creator of the Getting Along approach and training programme.
He has also facilitated the creation of A Good Life With Dementia - a course designed by people living with dementia for people with a recent diagnosis of dementia, with people with dementia as course tutors.
With a background in learning disability nursing, and formation living in community in Latin America, Damian has spent 20 years working with people with dementia in acute, community and long term care settings. After a long association with Innovations, he became a co-director in September 2016.
Damian enjoys language and languages, plodding around the local Park Run, singing (in the shower) and having a bet on the footy. He lives with the girl of his dreams and their 3 children in York.
Rachael co-founded Innovations in Dementia with Nada Savitch in 2007. She has a background in psychology and advocacy and is particularly interested in ways of working that enhance people's day to day lives. She especially enjoys working with people with dementia in care homes, having begun her working life managing an advocacy project for care home residents with dementia in London. Rachael has focused for the past few years on involvement methods and has seen a lot of change from the early 2000's when she set up an involvement programme for the Alzheimer's Society. She is really proud to see the DEEP network flourishing and is looking forward to concentrating now on recovery and discovery projects with people with dementia. Rachael's grandma Lily opened up her eyes to what it means to live with dementia.
Rachael enjoys photography, long walks, and hiding in her newly created ‘sewing room'.
Steve has been with Innovations since 2007. He leads our work on accessibility, and is always on the lookout for ways to make the places and communities in which we live better for everyone. He has lots of experience not just with buildings and public spaces but with written information too. He is also an experienced and very effective trainer and public speaker.
Steve has been working with older and disabled people since 1985, as a researcher, writer and service manager. He helped set up the Alzheimers Society Helpline in 1995 which he ran for 7 years.
Steve's grandmother, grandfather and father all had dementia.
Steve loves to cook, run, and play drums. His family appreciate his talents in precisely the same order.