About Dr Heather Yemm
I am a Research Fellow at the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute. My research centres around ageing, with a particular focus on dementia.
I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Nottingham in 2009. My PhD focused on understanding perspectives and knowledge of cognitive impairment in later life across a range of populations. I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.
I am passionate about understanding the lived experiences of older adults facing a range of conditions, particularly those living with dementia and their families, and exploring ways to enhance the care and support available to these individuals. My work over the last decade has focused extensively on improving the quality of life for people living with cognitive impairment and dementia and their families, and exploring what people know and understand about cognitive impairment.
I have a keen interest in the health and social care system and workforce and believe that improving training and conditions for staff is key to ensuring that the workforce are able to continue to deliver outstanding care and to maintain their own wellbeing in what can often be a challenging and stressful work environment.
Teaching and supervision
I supervise PhD students and deliver expert lectures on ethics, working with vulnerable populations, and my work within the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute.
I am also a Certified NVivo Expert, able to provide expert training on the use of NVivo in research.
Current PhD students:
- Callum Tierney: 'Improving experiences of transgender patients in community pharmacies in the North East of England'.
- Mauro Amatosi: 'The impact of social prescribing link worker model on General Practice' (In collaboration with Sunderland GP Alliance).
Research
My research interests are centred around ageing, including:
- The experiences of people living with cognitive impairment and dementia
- The experiences of informal/family carers of people living with cognitive impairment and dementia
- Care and support of people living with dementia and cognitive impairment and their families
- Care pathways for people living with dementia
- Identifying how to best provide timely and accessible support for people living with dementia and their families
- The role and experiences of care home staff working with older adults
- Workforce training and upskilling in care homes and health care settings
- Experiences, management and prevention of frailty
- Risk factors and possible preventative strategies for dementia and cognitive impairment
- Perceptions of successful ageing
- Societal perceptions of dementia and cognitive impairment
- Reducing stigma surrounding dementia and ageing
- Community support for older people, including people living with dementia
- The role of arts in supporting older people, including people living with dementia
- Sensory impairment
My current research projects include:
- Northern Health Futures Hub (Co-I, EPSRC Funded)
- A multi-perspective evaluation of the Admiral Nurse Service in South Tyneside (PI)
- An exploration of the barriers and facilitators to online engagement with support for informal carers (Co-Lead, NIHR ARC Funded)
- Evaluation of Type 2 Diabetes education course for people with a learning disability (PI)
- Evaluation of Community Voice (PI)
- An exploration of the impact of a unique integrated approach to vision services from a multi-stakeholder perspective (PI)
Previous projects include:
- An exploration of the impact of lived experience counselling on suicide rates and self-harm among people experiencing sight loss (PI)
- Evaluation of "A Future You: Positive planning for ageing well" (PI)
Further information
I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.
To learn more about my research, please follow me on Twitter at @HeatherYemm(opens in new tab).
Professional Activities:
- Review Editor, Frontiers in Public Health
- Member of Bromley Research Ethics Committee
- Sunderland Ageing Well Ambassador
Journal Reviewer:
- Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Obesity Reviews
Grant Reviewer:
- UKRI Talent Peer Review College
- ARUK North Network Committee