Dr Simon Evans

dr-simon-evans

Principal Research Fellow and Research Lead - Association for Dementia Studies

Association for Dementia Studies

Contact Details

email: simon.evans@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 54 2511

Dr Simon Evans is a Principal Research Fellow and Research Lead with the Association for Dementia Studies. Simon has developed a portfolio of dementia research projects that spans a wide range of topics including housing, health, social care, the arts, assistive technology, care homes, and communities. His role includes applying for research funding, managing a team of researchers, and ensuring that research findings are disseminated to key audiences.

Simon was awarded a BSc in Psychology in 1980 and worked in the NHS as an administrator and then a researcher, moving to academia in 2001. After a brief spell at the University of Bath he moved to the University of the West of England in 2003 (where he achieved a PhD in 2010), and joined the Association for Dementia Studies in 2011.

Qualifications

PhD (2010), User involvement in research, University of the West of England, Department of Health and Applied Social Sciences.

BSc hons (1980), Psychology. University of Lancaster

Research, Teaching and Knowledge Transfer

Research:

Dr Evans has 20 years experience as a mixed methods researcher and a substantial record of research income and project management across health, housing and social care.

He is currently involved in a range of projects including:

Completed Projects at Worcester include:

  • The Provision of Social Care in Extra Care Housing (ECHO). National Institute for Health Research, School for Social Care Research, 2015-2017. The Provision of Social Care in Extra Care Housing
  • Green dementia care in Extra Care and Residential Care settings opportunities, barriers and good practice. Abbeyfield Research Foundation, 2016-17. Green Dementia Care
  • The Making of Me (MoM) Mentoring Programme in Care Homes across three Creative Arts forms and the Creative Ageing Programme. The Courtyard Theatre, 2014-2019.
  • MEETINGDEM: Adaptive Implementation and Validation of the positively evaluated MeetingCentres Support Programme for people with dementia and their carers in Europe.EU JPND (ESRC)2014-2017 MEETINGDEM Meeting Centres UK
  • Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board in Wales to evaluate their Dementia Training Programme. ABMU, 2016-17. ABMU
  • Exploring the use of iPads for people living with dementia in care homes. Anchor, 2015-16.Anchor iPad Project
  • Promoting cultural competency in the domiciliary care workforce supporting people living with dementia, Department of Health, 2014-16 Home is where the heart is
  • Evaluating the My Musical Memories Reminiscence Programme. Alzheimers Society, 2014-15. My Musical Memories
  • Admiral Nurses Roles in Care Homes. Orders of St John Care Trust, 2014-15. Admiral Nurses in care homes
  • The Evaluation of the RCN Foundation development programme Transforming dementia care in hospital Royal College of Nursing, 2013-14 RCN Dementia Development Programme
  • Dementia and Sight Loss. National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care Research, 2012-14. Dementia and Sight Loss
  • Implementation and field testing of Focused Intervention for Training of Staff (FITS) programme in 150 early adopter care homes. Alzheimers Society Research grant. 2012-14 FITS into Practice
  • Adult Social Services Environments and Settings. National Institute for Health Research, School for Social Care Research, 2012-14. ASSET
  • Comparison and recommendations for best practice in improving early diagnosis for people with dementia across European Union member states. Department of Health EU Alcove programme. 2011-13 EU ALCOVE Timely diagnosis

PhD Project Ideas:

Teaching:

Dr Evans is currently Director of Studies for the following PhD students

  • Oatley, R.,  An in-depth exploration of how women living with dementia engage with sporting reminiscence activities. University of Worcester 2017-2021 Becky Oatley
  • Gray, K., Evaluating arts-based activities for people living with dementia: Methodological challenges and possible solutions. University of Worcester (TAnDem), 2015- 2018. Karen Gray

He is co-supervisor for:

  • Veale, A., Tailoring Arts Interventions to Individual Needs in Dementia: delivery of arts activities and individual difference (what works for whom)University of Worcester (TAnDem), 2015- 2018 Amy Veale

Knowledge Transfer

Simon is committed to research that makes a difference to individuals and society.He carries out a range of activities to ensure that research findings are disseminated as widely as possible including publications and presentations/workshops. He chairs the steering group of the Housing and Dementia Research Consortium, a network of about one hundred housing and care providers and others interested in building and implementing the evidence base for housing and dementia.

Professional bodies and experience

Professional Memberships include

· Member of the British Gerontological Society BSG

· Member of Interdem

· ESRC Peer Review College Member

Publications and Dissemination

Evans S, Jones R, Smithson J (2014). Connecting with older people as project stakeholders: Lessons for public participation and engagement in rural research; in Hennessy, Means and Burholt (Eds), Countryside connections: Older people, community and place in rural Britain. Policy Press; Bristol.Evans S, Vallelly S, Croucher K. (2014)

The role of specialist housing in supporting older people with dementia.In: Downs M & Bowers B. Excellence in dementia care. McGraw Hill/Open University Press: 320-336 Evans S (2013)

Housing with Care for Older People, in Improving Later Life: Services for Older People what works. Age UK; London.Evans S (2009).

Community and Ageing in housing with care settings. Policy Press, Bristol.Evans S, Means R. (2008).

Housing and persons with dementia. In: Kandel I, Schofield P, Merrick J. Aging and disability. Research and clinical perspectives. Victoria, BC: Int Acad Press:341-5 Tritter, J, Daykin, N, Evans, S, Sanidas, M (2003)

Improving Cancer Services through Patient Involvement,Radcliffe; Oxford.

F. Mangiaracina, R. Chattat, E. Farina, F.L. Saibene, G. Gamberini, D. Brooker, S.C. Evans, S.B. Evans, D. Szczesniak, K. Urbanska, J. Rymaszewska, I. Hendriks, R.M. Dröes, and F.J.M. Meiland (2017). Not re-inventing the wheel: the adaptive implementation of the meeting centres support programme in four European countriesAging & Mental Health http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2016.1258540

Evans S & Bray J (2016). Best practice for providing social care and support to people living with concurrent sight loss and dementia: professional perspectives. Working with Older People 20(2): 86-93

Waller, S, Masterson, A Evans, S(2016) The development of environmental assessment tools to support the creation of dementia friendly care environments: Innovative practice.Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. ISSN 1417-3012

Bray J, Evans SC, Bruce M, Carter C, Brooker DJR, Milosevic S, Thompson R, Hutt L. (2015). Improving activity and engagement for patients with dementia Nursing older people 27(8):22-26

Bray J, Evans SC, Bruce M, Carter C, Brooker DJR, Milosevic S, Thompson R, Longden J, Robinson J. (2015). Improving the hospital environment for people with dementia. Nursing older people 27(9):16-20

Bray J, Evans SC, Bruce M, Carter C, Brooker DJR, Milosevic S, Thompson R, Woods C. (2015). Enabling hospital staff to care for people with dementia. Nursing older people 27(10):29-32

Bray J, Evans SC, Thompson R, Bruce M, Carter C, Brooker DJR, Milosevic S, Coleman H. (2015). Understanding the Needs of People with Dementia and Family Carers Nursing older people 27(7):18-23

Evans SC, Brooker DJR, Thompson R, Bray J, Milosevic S, Bruce M, Carter C. (2015) Introduction to the transforming dementia care in hospitals series. Nursing older people 27(6):18-2

Atkinson T, Evans S, Darton R, Cameron A, Porteus J, Smith R (2014).Creating the asset base a review of literature and policy on housing with care. Housing, Care and Support, 17(1) EarlyCite http://www.emeraldinsight.com

Brooker D, La Fontaine J, Evans S, Saad K. (2014) Public health guidance to facilitate timely diagnosis of dementia: ALzheimer's COoperative Valuation in Europe recommendations.International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry DOI:10.1002/gps.4066

Jones M, Kimberlee R, Deave T, Evans S. (2013). The Role of Community Centre-based Arts, Leisure and Social Activities in Promoting Adult Well-being and Healthy Lifestyles.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013; 10(5):1948-1962.

Evans S, Means R, Powell J. (2013) Making Care Homes Part of the Community? An evaluation of the Gloucestershire Partnerships for Older People Project. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 14 (1) 66-74.

Evans S, Hills J, Orme J. (2012). Doing more for less? Developing sustainable systems of social care in the context of climate change and public spending cuts. British Journal of Social Work, 42, 744-764.

Means R, Evans S. (2012). Communities of place and communities of interest? An exploration of their changing role in later life. Ageing & Society, 32 (8) 1300-1318.

Evans S, Corley M, Corrie M, Costley K, Donald C. (2011). Evaluating services in partnership with older people: exploring the role of community researchers. Working with Older People, 15 (1), 26-33.

S. (2009). That lot up there and us down here: social interaction and a sense of community in a mixed tenure UK retirement village. Ageing & Society, 29, 199-216.

Evans, S. (2008). Providing rehabilitation services for people with dementia through intermediate care. Nursing Older People, 20 (2), 33-35.

Sheratt, C, Soteriou, T, Evans, S (2008). Ethical Issues in Social Research Involving People with Dementia,Dementia: The international journal of social research and practice6 (4) 463-479

Evans, S, Fear, T, Means, R, Vallelly, S (2007). Promoting independence for people with dementia in extra care housing.Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 6 (1): 144 - 150.

Evans, S, Means, R. (2006). Perspectives on risk for older people with dementia in extra care housing in the UK: Findings from a longitudinal study,International Journal of Disability and Human Development5 (1)

Evans, S. (2005) Researching Older People with Dementia in Supported Housing. Generations Review, 15 (4) 3-7.

Evans, S, Means, R (2005) Single assessment for older people: New horizon or continued confusion?,Nursing Older People, 17 (2) 16-18.

Evans, S, Means, R, Vallelly, S (2004)Research Governance and its Implications for Housing Studies,Research Policy and Planning22 (1) 47-52

Evans, S, Tritter, J, Barley, V, Daykin, N (2003)User Involvement in UK Cancer Services,European Journal of Cancer Care12, 331-338

Tritter, J, Barley, V, Daykin, N, Evans, S (2003)Divided Care and the Third Way: User Involvement in statutory and voluntary sector cancer services,Sociology of Health and Illness25(5)429-456.

Evans, S., Darton, R., Cameron, A., Smith, A., Atkinson, T., Porteus, J., Netten, A. (July 2016). The Community Hub approach to extra care housing: integrating health and social care. British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Stirling, Scotland.

Evans, SC., Evans, SB., Bray, J. (July 2016). How touchscreen technology can support people with dementia living in care homes. British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Stirling, Scotland.

Evans SC, Brooker D, Evans SB. (September 2015). Meeting Centres: an innovative way of supporting people with mild to moderate dementia and their families through an evidence-based, person-centred approach. British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Newcastle.

Evans SC, Garabedian C, Bray J, Jacobsen N, Yemm H (September 2015). Exploring the impacts of a music-based intervention that aims to promote reminiscence for people living with dementia. British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Newcastle

Evans, S. BRAY Jennifer (November 2014) Adventures in Dementia. Gerontological Society of America, Washington DC.

Evans, S. BRAY Jennifer (July 2014). Dementia and sight loss in housing settings. Housing Studies Association Annual Conference, YorkBrooker, D.

JACOBSON Nicola, PERRY Wendy, LATHAM Isabelle, EVANS Simon (October, 2014) FITS into Practice: The role of the Dementia Practice Development Coach and the Dementia Care Coach, UK Dementia Congress, Brighton, UK

Brooker, D. JACOBSON Nicola, PERRY Wendy, LATHAM Isabelle, EVANS Simon (October, 2014) FITS into Practice: The role of the Dementia Practice Development Coach and the Dementia Care Coach, Alzheimer Europe Conference, Glasgow, UK

DRÖES Rose-Marie, Szczesniak Dorota, Rymaszewska Joanna, Farina Elisabetta, Chattat Rabih, Evans Simon, Hendriks Iris, Brooker Dawn, Orrell Martin, Meiland Franka (October, 2014) MEETINGDEM; adaptive implementation and validation of the Meeting Centers Support Programme, Alzheimer Europe Conference, Glasgow, UK

Evans, S., Brooker, D., La Fontaine J. & Bray, J. Ashley, P. (November 2012) ALCOVE: Sharing knowledge to enlighten healthcare policies in Europe for People Living with Dementia and their Carers. UK Dementia Congress, Brighton, UK

Evans, S., Brooker, D., La Fontaine J. & Bray, J. Ashley, P. (October, 2012) ALCOVE: Sharing knowledge to enlighten healthcare policies in Europe for People Living with Dementia and their Carers Emerging findings on early diagnosis. Alzheimer Europe Conference, Vienna, Austria

Evans, S., Brooker, D., La Fontaine J. & Bray, J (July 2012) ALCOVE: Sharing knowledge to enlighten healthcare policies in Europe for People Living with Dementia and their Carers. British Gerontological Society Annual Conference, Keele, UK

External Responsibilities

Associate Editor, Ageing & Society