Adam Smith speaks with four researchers from The University of Liverpool, dedicated to better understanding (and then addressing) Inequalities in Dementia Care.

This weeks guests are Dr Clarissa Giebel, Senior Research Fellow, PhD students James Watson and Thais Caprioli and Research Associate Laura Prato.

Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

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When we think of inequalities, we most focus on disparities in access, quality, and treatment. However, this is a complex topic inequality in this podcast we discuss the work of our four guests and what they have discovered working in the UK, covering:

Diagnosis: People from ethnic minorities, lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those living in rural areas may be less likely to receive a timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia.

Access to care: People with dementia and their caregivers may face challenges in accessing appropriate support and services, including specialist services, community support and respite care.

Quality of care: The quality of care received by people with dementia may vary depending on where they live and their personal circumstances, such as their financial resources and social support. It may also be affected by the care pathway of the individual organisation treating them.

Caregiver burden: Caregivers of people with dementia often experience high levels of stress, financial strain, and social isolation, particularly if they have limited support – and issue that worsened during the pandemic.

Addressing these inequalities in dementia care requires a multi-faceted approach that considers social, economic, cultural, and systemic factors – which is the next step and challenge in turning research into action.

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This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.