Dr Rosie Ashworth:  RICH Voices Team

Rosie Ashworth is the co-lead for RICH Voices and lead for Partners 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 a passion 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 the process of developing co-research with people living with neuroprogressive conditions.

Denise Munro:  RICH Voices Team

I joined the network in 2024 as Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Officer and I work with Partners in Research, the PPI group for the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, and Rich Voices, the PPI group for ENRICH (ENabling Research In Care Home) Scotland.
 
I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Stirling in 2011 and then completed an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh in 2022. My experience is focused on dementia and, before joining the network, I worked with the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre for 11 years in research administration and, more recently, PPI and knowledge exchange. I am passionate about supporting members of the public to contribute their lived-experience to research and I am particularly interested in improving access for individuals and communities who are difficult to reach or are typically underserved in research. I am also interested in making science more accessible to the public and using modern media to improve reach.

We aim to enable researchers to share findings, raise awareness, and bridge the gap between “everyday practice” and academia. An accessible summary is a short piece of content used to explain research to members of the public. By co-creating these summaries, we can foster the outreach of wider academics and/or care home researchers to engage with people with lived experience by sharing findings and showcasing these outputs to have lasting impacts. 

We will invite people who are conducting care home research to share accessible summaries of what they are doing and importantly, how it relates to everyday practice within a care home. If readers would then like to hear more detail about the work, contact details will be available. The use of this platform is designed to foster meaningful collaboration between researchers, care home stakeholders and RICH Voices members.

Read Accessible Summaries

As part of our commitment to accessible communication, ENRICH Scotland have supported videos on numerous topics.

• An introduction to Enabling Research in Care Homes: ENRICH Scotland

• Bernie McInally talks about Dementia Research in Rural Areas
• Bernie McInally follows up his previous blog about LGBTQ+ and higher dementia risk
• Dr Maria Drummond, Senior Clinical Studies Officer, and Andrew Gibson, Clinical Studies Officer at ENRICH Scotland, give their insights from the Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference
• Bernie McInally, ENRICH Scotland's Clinical Studies Officer for Lothian & Borders, writes about ensuring LGBTQ+ older adults are included in Care Home Research
• Patient and Public Involvement Lead ENRICH Scotland, Dr Rosie Ashworth has been sharing the work of the network, and learning from others at a range of recent conferences and workshops
• Diane Frew, ENRICH Scotland's Clinical Studies Officer for Glasgow, writes about ENRICH Scotland's 2024 conference and bridging the gap between researchers and care homes
• Dr Maria Drummond, Senior Clinical Studies Officer, at ENRICH Scotland, explains how the team are improving our ability to support researchers
• Professor Susan Shenkin, Co-Director of ENRICH Scotland, writes for the British Society of Gerontology on how to take part in care home research

Useful resources for care home research.

Ashworth et al. (2023). Challenging Assumptions Around Dementia: User-led Research and Untold Stories (Open access book, free download). UK: Palgrave. 

LGBTQ+

This resource raises awareness and challenges the thoughts of in those delivering care within our communities, that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are supported in a way that allows them to be true to who they are. The course will touch on why the needs of the LGBTQ+ community are different, what those needs are, wider considerations, and how we can provide care which respects and values authentic living.

• Watch the introductory video

An archive of all our monthly newsletters.

• June 2025 Newsletter
• May 2025 Newsletter
• April 2025 Newsletter
• February 2025 Newsletter
• January 2025 Newsletter
• December 2024 Newsletter

We are in the process of creating a RICH Voices podcast, an idea generated by RICH Voices for provided accessible and accurate information about care home research. Our four-part podcast series that sets the scene of care home research, looks at the benefits of research involvement, explores the challenges for research in care homes, and look at the future for research in care homes. Podcasts are being recorded online as well as within care homes to capture a wide range of voices.

The four podcast episodes will focus on:

• Setting the scene — care home research
• Benefits and impact of research
• Challenges and how to overcome them
• Future directions for care home research

People can get involved with this series by asking and/or answering questions on the podcast; desiging a logo/branding for the series; and developing the content of episodes and questions to be asked.

Alongside the podcast, we have received some funding to co-create a film about what research participation in care homes can look like. We are hoping that be showcasing the range of research types and how they look in practice will help demystify research and increase people’s confidence in taking part.

As an output from our An Introduction to ENRICH Scotland video, we created an image library from extra footage. This content will be used in future ENRICH promotion.

We also received funds to purchase media equipment to showcase “what accessible science can look like”. This library will be continuously updated with images that are free to use. We will also upload any other relevant content such as, logos and posters.

On the 6th September 2023 our paper was published online.  

This article describes the components of enabling research in care homes in Scotland and the research infrastructure the team are developing to enable more research, including clinical trials, to be carried out in Scottish care homes, and how this will benefit the residents, families and staff.

• Read the article

Academic papers for studies ENRICH Scotland have been involved in writing:

Burton, J.K., Drummond, M., Gallacher, K.I. et al. Listening and learning: a qualitative study of Scottish care home staff experiences of managing COVID-19 between March 2020-August 2022.(2023). BMC Geriatr 23, 544. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04251-z

Drummond. M, Cartin. K, Shenkin. S, Burton. J.K (2024). Facilitating equitable research access for people living in care homes.  Age and Ageing Vol 53. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae220

Hockley, J., Watson, J., Johnston, L., Shenkin, S. (2024).  Practicalities of promoting practice-based learning in end of life care for Care Home staff:  Lessons from 'online' supportive conversations and reflection sessions. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12598

Law E, Ashworth R, Shenkin S (2024) Exploring research participation in Scottish care homes since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing Older People. https://journals.rcni.com/nursing-older-people/evidence-and-practice/exploring-research-participation-in-scottish-care-homes-since-the-covid19-pandemic-nop.2024.e1485/full

Law E, Ashwroth, R., Killin, L., Connelly, P. (2021) Motivating and constraining factors for research participation in Scottish care homes. Nursing and Residential Care 2021 23:4, https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/nrec.2021.23.4.8#:~:text=Lack%20of%20time%20and%20workplace,the%20risks%20of%20research%20involvement

Reena Devi, Kirsty Jane Haunch, Elizabeth Helen Graham, Alys Wyn Griffiths, Gary Hodge, Andrew Clegg, Maria Drummond, Anne Forster, Susie Pearce, Karen Spilsbury, Carl Thompson (2025). The uncertainties and questions of care home residents, relatives and staff as a basis for evidence-based improvement and research. Age and Ageing, Volume 54, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf125

Susan D Shenkin, Lucy Johnston, Jo Hockley, David A G Henderson, (2022). Developing a care home data platform in Scotland: a mixed methods study of data routinely collected in care homes, Age and Ageing, Volume 51, Issue 12, afac265, https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac265

Other Care Home Research Publications

Birt L; Lane K; Corner J; Sanderson K; Bunn D. (2023). Care-home nurses’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: managing ethical conundrums at personal cost: a qualitative study. J Nurs Sch.55:226–238. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12855

Bradshaw A, Ostler S, Goodman C, Batkovskyte I, Ellis-Smith C, Tunnard I, Bone AE, Barclay S, Vernon M, Higginson IJ, Evans CJ, Sleeman KE. Provision of palliative and end-of-life care in UKcare homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods observational study with implications for policy. (2023). Front Public Health. Mar 14;11:1058736. https://coi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1058736

Burgher, T., Shepherd, V. & Nollett, C. Effective approaches to public involvement in care home research: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. (2023). Res Involv Engagem 9, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-023-00453-2

Chapman-Wright J, Parnell SA, Bunn D et al. (2022) Perspectives: Nurses in care homes as advisors in research: benefits for all? J Res Nurs. Vol 27(4), pp401-405. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871221103839

Cowdell, F., Heague, M., & Dyson, J. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to skin hygiene care and emollient use in residential care homes: Instrument design and survey. International Journal of OlderPeople Nursing, 18, e12550. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12550

Fang, M. L., Cranwell, M., White, B., Wylie, G., Wong, K. L. Y., Harter, K., Cosgrave, L., Moulton, M., Fulton, R., Sixsmith, A., & Sixsmith, J. (2023). Aging-in-Place at the End-of-Life in Community and Residential Care Contexts. University of Dundee. https://doi.org/10.20933/100001274

Finucane AM, Hulbert-Williams NJ, Swash B, et al. (2023). Feasibility of RESTORE: An online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to improve palliative care staff wellbeing. PalliativeMedicine. Feasibility of RESTORE: An online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to improve palliative care staff wellbeing - Anne M Finucane, Nicholas J Hulbert-Williams, Brooke Swash, Juliet A Spiller, Brigid Wright, Libby Milton, David Gillanders, 2023 (sagepub.com)

Forbat l, Macgregor A, Spilsbury K, McCormack B, Rutherford A, Hanratty B, Hockley J, Davison L, Ogden M, Soulsby I, McKenzie M (2024).  Using Palliative Care Needs Rounds in the UK for care home staff and residents: an implementation science study. https://doi.org/10.3310/KRWQ5829

Gibson, G., McCabe, L., Wilson-Nash, C., et al. (2022). Evaluation of the ‘Connecting Residents in Scotland’s Care Homes’ Programme. https://tec.scot/sites/default/files/2022-09/CRSCH%20Executive%20Summary_FINAL.pdf

Johnston, L. (2023). Care homes: Data and digital readiness. Open Access Government, Jan 2023, 106-107. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/article/care-homes-data-and-digital-readiness/149491

Macgregor A, McCormack B, Spilsbury K, Hockley J, Rutherford A, Ogden M, Soulsby I, McKenzie M, Hanratty B, Forbat L. (2023). Supporting care home residents in the last year of life through'Needs Rounds': Development of a pre-implementation programme theory through a rapid collaborative online approach. Front Health Serv. 9;2:1019602. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2022.1019602

Philip M Bath, Jonathan Ball, Matthew Boyd. Et al. (2022). Prophylactic Treatment of COVID-19 in Care Homes Trial (PROTECT-CH) MedRixv https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.29.22279359

Schoultz, M., McGrogan, C., Beattie, M. et al. (2022) Psychological first aid for workers in care and nursing homes: systematic review. BMC Nurs 21, 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00866-6

Shepherd, V, Hood, K & Wood, F.  (2023) Planning ahead for research participation:  survey of public and professional stakeholders' views about the acceptability and feasibility of advance research planning.  BMC Med Ethics 24, 70 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00948-3

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