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From left to right, Dr Anna Jack-Waugh (Senior Lecturer), Prof Louise Ritchie (Professor of Dementia), Prof Debbie Tolson (Emeritus Professor), Dr Rhoda McRae (Reader), Dr Bryan Mitchell (Lecturer), Dr Laura Lebec (Network Manager), Mrs Kellie Burns (Lecturer)

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Our Vision

To be a centre of excellence advancing dementia policy and practice through education, applied research and policy influence.

Our Mission

To work collaboratively with people with dementia and carers, the scientific and practice communities to advance evidence informed dementia policy and practice.

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Our Objectives

At the ASCPP we believe that people with dementia deserve high quality care. We know that this is possible when:

Practitioners have enhanced dementia knowledge and practical skills

When enlightened policies are put into practice

When society respects the rights of people with dementia

When we work in partnership with people with dementia, their family and friends.

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Here is an article which shows the journey of dementia education, theory and practice which is now part of many undergraduate programmes in UWS. (15 minute read)

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One of the users of the Domus is the ASCPP Carers Academy. This is a monthly face to face academy, supporting family carers of people with dementia through education.

Click this picture for a more detailed description of the Carers Academy across Scotland.

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The MSc in Dementia Care aims to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to enable health and social care staff to lead, plan and deliver person-focused care to people living with dementia…

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We have a ‘way of working’ that permeates our learning and teaching about dementia; you could say this is our signature educational approach. We call this Care Empathia, learning through knowledge (the head), feeling (the heart) and doing (the hand).

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The MSc in Dementia Care aims to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to enable health and social care staff to lead, plan and deliver person-focused care to people living with dementia…

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Centre Report: Worthington Celebration Lecture (2025)

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Centre Report: Worthington Celebration Lecture (2025)

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In the two years since our 10-year celebration event in March 2023, the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) has experienced many successes, changes, and challenges. This report is an opportunity to celebrate those achievements. The most visible change at the ASCPP is the new author of the Director’s Welcome. I am privileged to take on the leadership of the ASCPP following Professor Debbie Tolson’s retirement in September 2024

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Centre Report: 10 Year Celebration Report (2023)

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Centre Report: 10 Year Celebration Report (2023)

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To mark our ten-year anniversary, we are honouring three groups and one individual. The groups receiving Inspiring People Awards are the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG), National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) and the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Consultant Group. The individual Inspiring Practice Award goes to Margaret Callaghan. She exemplifies our goal that ASCPP dementia education pathways advance practice careers and simultaneously improve lives

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Centre Report: A Celebration of Dementia Education Centre Report (2021)

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Centre Report: A Celebration of Dementia Education Centre Report (2021)

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Welcome to our 2021 Annual Report. This year we are celebrating excellence in dementia education. With a feature article on our signature pedagogy Care Empathia, this is our award winning approach to dementia education.

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Centre Report: Celebration Report (2020)

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Centre Report: Celebration Report (2020)

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Welcome to the ASCPP Celebration Report 2020. This year our report is looking a little different to previous years because we have not been able to host our usual Named Lecture. Instead, we have selected and will be sharing some inspirational practice stories from practitioners who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic. You can read about their important contributions later in the report. Our big news is that we are CATE 2020 Winners!

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Centre Report: Annabelle Gray Celebration Lecture (2019)

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Centre Report: Annabelle Gray Celebration Lecture (2019)

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It has been another exciting and busy year for the Centre team and students. Thanks to 34 contributing authors (staff, doctoral students and practice associates) we have published our first ASCPP textbook. The Textbook of Dementia Care: An Integrated Approach was edited by Professors Jackson and Tolson. This book, launched in May, will be a core text for our MSc Gerontology with Dementia students and a must read for pre-registration nursing and integrated practice students, Dementia Champions and Dementia Specialist Improvement Leads (DSILs)

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Centre Report: Henderson Celebration Lecture (2018)

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Centre Report: Henderson Celebration Lecture (2018)

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The Centre team have had a busy and rewarding year, which has included changes to the academic School, we are now within the School of Health & Life Sciences, and have moved to the brand new Lanarkshire Campus

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In this first centre report, highlights from our applied scholarship, research and growing portfolio of dementia education are presented in this report. All of our work has been inspired by people who have a personal or professional interest in improving dementia care in Scotland and around the world.

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UWS70227 Alzheimer A4 Brochure 2017 v5 for web final

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Louise Ritchie is a Professor in Dementia Research, and the Director the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at UWS. She is a psychologist who is interested in understanding the experiences of people with dementia and research which can help to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and people who care for them. Her most impactful research projects relate to dementia and employment; understanding the experiences of those who are diagnosed whilst still in employment and exploring the potential for continued employment post-diagnosis.

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Dr Louise Ritchie is a Reader in Dementia Research in the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at UWS. She is a psychologist who is interested in understanding the experiences of people with dementia and research which can help to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and people who care for them. Her most impactful research projects relate to dementia and employment; understanding the experiences of those who are diagnosed whilst still in employment and exploring the potential for continued employment post-diagnosis. She also has a developing track record in other areas of dementia research which explores housing, non-pharmacological interventions (including music and animal-assisted therapy) and evaluation of dementia education programmes.

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Rhoda is a Reader and takes a lead role in enterprise and research activities within the Centre. Rhoda's research interests include dementia care in secure settings, advanced dementia care and dementia education. She is committed to improving dementia care and practice through conducting impactful applied research.

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Research interests include dementia, advanced dementia, dementia and criminal justice, dementia education and dementia care giver support. Qualitative methodologies, knowledge exchange, improvement science, learning transfer and practitioner research.

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Anna Jack-Waugh is a senior lecturer in dementia and mental health nurse at the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, School of Health & Life Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland.  As a leading member of the UK Higher Education Dementia Network she leads and influences developing interprofessional education through research and practice development for all health and social care staff working with people with dementia. Anna has been involved in research and education projects on advanced dementia across Europe and collaborated with colleagues in India and Canada to learn from Scotland's National Dementia Champions internationally.  Additionally, Anna teaches and leads the integration of dementia education in undergraduate and postgraduate Nursing and Paramedic programmes at UWS. Her work has resulted in over thirty research outputs on dementia education for all.

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Bryan Mitchell is a Programme Leader and Lecturer within the School of Health and Life Sciences with a background in Complementary Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Bryan has worked across the education sector for approximately 9 years where he has a keen interest in the Integration of Health and Social Care services, Older People, Nursing Homes, Advanced Dementia, and Dementia Education.

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I have worked across the education sector for approximately 5 years where I have a keen interest in the Integration of Health and Social Care services. Initially starting out in further education at the City of Glasgow College, I have since gone on and become part of the integrated health and social care team at the University of the West of Scotland on both the BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care, and MSc Leading People Centred Integrated Care programmes. Our undergraduate programme is a fully articulated degree where the staff recognise the transformational learning that can take place both for staff and students. I am actively involved in the management and teaching within this programme and continually strive to ensure that a student-centred approach to learning and teaching is maintained throughout at all levels. Our Post Graduate programme has been designed to provide a progressive pathway of Masters level study for staff working in the cross-sectoral field of health and social care. The course empowers and enables students to lead and develop integrated services to promote and enhance quality of services, improving outcomes for people.

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Eileen is a Lecturer and has a background in psychology and research. She is interested in understanding and improving health and wellbeing across the lifespan.  Eileen is part of a multi-disciplinary academic team within the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) at UWS working collaboratively with academics and external stakeholders delivering education within this field.  Eileen is particularly interested in growing knowledge around trauma-informed approaches in dementia and have been successful in securing externally funded research to advance understanding of mechanisms to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

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My background is in psychology and research and I am interested in understanding and improving health and wellbeing across the lifespan. I am part of a multi-disciplinary academic team within the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) at UWS working collaboratively with academics and external stakeholders delivering education within this field. I am particularly interested in growing knowledge around trauma-informed approaches in dementia and have been successful in securing externally funded research to advance understanding of mechanisms to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

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Laura is the Network Plus Manager on the ESRC funded Working With Dementia Network Plus Project. Laura is supporting the development of a transdisciplinary research network. The Working With Dementia Network Plus aims to enhance labour market experiences for those affected by dementia. Laura’s background is in the third sector where she has worked for social care organisations supporting both adults and children. Her research focus has been about driving improvements to the quality of care in social care services and she is particularly interested in integrating person-centred approaches to research.

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750 million+ members | Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights and opportunities.

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Vinodhini Murugavel is a dedicated lecturer and academic working within the School of Health and Life Sciences at the University of West of Scotland. With a strong focus on dementia care, Vinodhini combines extensive teaching experience with a robust clinical experience background to advance the nursing field through education.

Vinodhini is part of the Alzheimer’s Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, where she contributes to dementia care research and formulation of dementia education within the pre-registration nursing programs.  Her research work focuses on understanding the traumatic experiences of the diagnostic pathway of dementia diagnosis, advocating for a trauma-informed approach.  Additionally, she is trained in Low-intensity Cognitive-behavioural Therapy and Compassionate Focused Therapy.

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Kellie Burns is a lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at the School of Health and Life Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). With a strong commitment to advancing mental health care and enhancing dementia services, Kellie is actively engaged as a fellow of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, contributing to the Centre's practice projects and academic initiatives. Kellie possesses extensive experience in dementia care, encompassing inpatient nursing, care home liaison services, operational responsibilities, and clinical assessments within an NHS memory clinic.

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Susan is NHS Ayrshire and Arran's Nurse Consultant-Dementia. As part of her NCD role, Susan has a defined teaching and research remit with the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice. She has particular interests in dementia care within hospital settings, post diagnostic support and dementia family caring. Susan co-leads our Carers' Academy programme and works in collaboration with the ASCPP to strengthen links between research, policy and practice

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Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Nurse Consultant, NHS Ayrshire & Arran

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Working with Dementia (WWD) Network Plus

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Working with Dementia (WWD) Network Plus

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The Dementia Network Plus initiative is a strategic investment by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Alzheimer’s Society. The Network Plus, led by Professor Louise Ritchie from UWS, will establish a unique research network which will bring together academics from Lancaster University, Northumbria University, Edinburgh Napier and University of Warwick with people living with dementia, and stakeholders like policymakers and employers.

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Tackling workplace dementia the focus of UWS-led £1.2 million project

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University of the West of Scotland (UWS) researchers have secured a grant of £1.2 million to lead a national project tackling dementia in the workplace.

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Dementia is one of the most pressing healthcare issues in the UK, it is unsurprising that dementia is a serious issue for prisons too.

Alzheimer Scotland’s Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) brings this challenge sharply into focus and has been conducting research within the prison environment. As the proportion of older prisoners continues to rise across Scotland, the system is faced with an increasing number of associated health and social care concerns – including dementia. Responding to this increase, and the complexities it brings, is a growing concern within already-stretched prison environments.

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Welcome to our research website that explores the impact of people living with dementia in Scottish prisons.

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Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice provides a high quality environment for applied research, education and social enterprise.

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Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice provides a high quality environment for applied research, education and social enterprise.

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Have you ever wondered if dementia is unique to humans or if it stretches beyond our species? This intriguing question lies at the heart of Multi-Species Dementia Studies, an upcoming book edited by Professor Nicholas Jenkins, Dr Anna Jack-Waugh, and Professor Louise Ritchie from the University of the West of Scotland, to be published by Bristol University’s Policy Press on January 30, 2025. This pioneering collection invites us to think beyond anthropocentric perspectives and explore the entangled relationships between humans and other species in dementia.