In this episode, we chat to care home managers Kirsty Cartin and Shona MacDonald, Education and Dementia Coordinator, Cheryl Henderson and Clinical Studies Officer, Diane Frew, to explore what research looks like in real-world caresettings. They discuss how they support research on the ground, the benefits for residents and staff, the successes, the hurdles and their ideas for making research more inclusive and accessible.

Music by Anna Bryan

Recorded and edited by Denise Grassick-Munro

Thank you to our guests:

Kirsty Cartin - Care Home Manager

A dedicated and passionate care home nurse with over 20 years of experience in the sector. Kirsty’s career spans both private and charitable organisations, where she has progressed to management level. Kirsty currently manages Rashielee Care Home in Erskine and was awarded RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year in 2024. Kirsty’s professionalinterests focus on the wellbeing of residents, their carers, and staff, as well as promoting the profile of care home nursing. Kirsty also runs the 'Just a Care Home Girl' Twitter account (@Justacarehomeg1), where she advocates for and shares insights about care home nursing.

Shona MacDonald - Care Home Manager

Shona MacDonald is the manager of Abbotsford Care Home in Glenrothes and has been working in nursing homes forover 13 years. Shona is passionate about looking after residents with dementia and at end of life, as well as making sure that the home looks after their families and friends, and the dedicated staff. At the time of recording this episode, Shona managed Braeburn Care Home in Lothian.

Cheryl Henderson - Education and Dementia Coordinator

After qualifying as a nurse, Cheryl moved to Scotland and applied for a care home job as a ‘temporary measure’, over 30 years later Cheryl is still working in this most rewarding sector of Health Care. With a passion for both dementia and developing others, Cheryl now works in her dream role doing both these things as an Education and Dementia Coordinator at Elder Homes Ltd. Along with Professor Susan Shenkin, Cheryl co-chairs the Care Home Innovation Partnership (CHIP), part of ENRICH (Enabling Research in Care Homes) Scotland, giving her the opportunity to help embed more research opportunities within Elder Homes.

Diane Frew – Clinical Studies Officer, ENRICH Scotland

Diane has been a Clinical Studies Officer (CSO) since 2021. She is CSO for ENRICH Scotland and the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network.

Since starting a career in the care home sector in 2014 as a HCSW in Bonnie auld Ayrshire and Arran. Diane has trained as an RMN and registered as a Mental Health Nurse in 2020, leading to a move up to Glasgow. Now, with over 10 years' experience of working in the care home and older adult care sector. She is keen to support change, and advocates for improvement in the services.

Diane is keen to keep building a bridge to support the care home sector, and has written a blog which tells how her journey began.

In our first episode we explore the fundamentals of care home research, the role of ENRICH Scotland in supporting this vital work, and how you can get involved. Featuring discussions from 2023 with ENRICH Co-Chairs, Professor Susan Shenkin and Dr Emma Law, as well as Dr Jenni Burton, a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and Honorary Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine.

Listen as we explore how care home research is improvingthe lives of people living or working in care homes and how ENRICH Scotland and RICH Voices are supporting this critical research. Find out more about ENRICH Scotland at: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-in-scotland/facilities/enrich

Music by Anna Bryan

Edited by Denise Munro

Professor Susan Shenkin

Susan joined Emma Law as co-chair of ENRICH Scotland in2019 and they have worked together as part of the interdisciplinary team to build the infrastructure of ENRICH and to work with the Chief Scientist Office to secure funding. Susan also co-chairs the Lothian CHIP (Care Home InnovationPartnership) and is a strong advocate for working across disciplines to promote research to understand and improve the care for care home residents, their families and those who care for them. Susan has been working as a clinicalacademic in geriatric medicine at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian since 2011, with main interests in cognitive ageing/delirium & dementia, and the health and care of residents and staff of care homes, in particular therole of data and technology.

*Note that since the discussion featured on this episode, Susan has been promoted to Professor.

Dr Emma Law

As Co-Chair of ENRICH Scotland, Emma is actively involvedin decisions around how ENRICH Scotland is shaped in partnership with Professor Susan Shenkin. This is an exciting and progressive time, enabling ENRICH Scotland to engage with care homes and all those who live, work and visit them in thinking about research and how we can enhance and change practice, using the most up-to-date ideas. Emma is also the strategic manager for the NRS Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NDN) where she works on strategies to include underserved groups in our society in research. These may include those living in remote and rural locations, marginalised communities such as LGBTQ+, or the oldest old, to name a few.

Dr Jenni Burton

Jenni is a Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine. Passionate about care of the elderly, Jenni is keen to engage with other researchers to collaborate on research projects which can help to make a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of older people.

About the hosts

Dr Rosalie Ashworth

Rosie Ashworth is the lead for RICH Voices and lead forPartners in Research, the 'patient and public involvement' groups for ENRICH Scotland and NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network respectively. As a research psychologist with a background in dementia research, Rosie has apassion for working closely with people with lived experience in research-related activities. In recent years, Rosie has worked with people living with dementia to co-write a book about their experiences, and is in theprocess of developing co-research with people living with neuroprogressive conditions.

Denise Munro

As Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Officer, I workwith RICH Voices, the PPI group for ENRICH (ENabling Research In Care Home) Scotland, and Partners in Research, the PPI group for the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network. With a science communication focus, I am interested in making science more accessible, interesting and relevant to the public, and how we can use modern media to improve reach. I am particularly passionate about supporting members of the public to contribute their lived experience to research and in improving access for individuals and communities who are traditionally not included.