Nancy Brown

Validation Training Institute, University of Edinburgh

Nancy Brown has over 18 years of experience in dementia care in a memory day centre serving all levels of cognitive impairment.  As a practitioner-researcher and specialist working with older adults living with advanced dementia, she is also a PhD candidate in dementia studies at the University of Edinburgh and the research centre ECRED.  She is a Certified Validation Teacher and conducts webinars, workshops, and private consultations for professional staff, volunteers, families, and caregivers.  Nancy serves as the Deputy Director for Communications of the Validation Training Institute, Communications Chair for the Non-Pharmacological Interventions interest area of ISTAART Alzheimer’s Association International, and also member of the Executive Committee for the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium.  Her research interest involves the importance of the day centre, its built environment (physical and cultural), and the key roles both play in the agency, social cohesion, social connectivity, engagement, and aging in place among an immigrant population living with advanced dementia.  Since COVID-19, my research has expanded to the use of technology and the development of virtual communities to engage persons with dementia in activities to alleviate social isolation.