Dr Anya Ahmed, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy in the School of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Social Sciences and Diversity and Inclusivity Lead in the Salford Institute for Dementia has been awarded a Joint Health and Well-Being Innovation grant from Salford City Council. The funds will enable her to conduct a study on promoting diversity and inclusiveness in dementia services.
The project aims to improve access to dementia services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Salford, increase carer identification and registration, and raise awareness of the needs of Salford’s diverse communities.
Dr Ahmed said: ‘It is timely to conduct this study as Salford’s minority ethnic population has increased and diversified over the last decade. Although the National Dementia Strategy emphasises that health and social care staff should take account of BME dementia needs, service providers report challenges in ensuring BME people are included. We also see lower levels of dementia awareness and higher levels of stigma associated with the condition among minority communities.”
This study builds on Dr Ahmed’s previous diversity and inclusiveness research in dementia. The report from the recently completed Somali Dementia Aware Project in LBC Camden will be published in April 2016.
Dr Ahmed will lead the Salford study along with colleagues from the School: Dr Mark Wilding and Ms Rita Haworth.