Trans and non-binary people have ALWAYS existed. We are family members, neighbors, activists, public servants, veterans, volunteers, organizers, artists, writers, people of faith, and SO. MUCH. MORE. They CANNOT erase us.

A fantastic first session #35AEC! A joint plenary from the European Working Group of People with Dementia and the European Dementia Carers Working Group; inspiring and emotional.

Enjoying the annual IMH Research Day as an observer not a presenter today ✨ there have been some great talks this morning, looking forward to the afternoon sessions! #IMHRD26 @institutemh.org.uk

The first paper from my PhD is out and available to read!

We're #recruiting for people with #dementia and/or their #familymembers / #carers who identify as #LGBTQIA+ for our next Lived Experience Advisory Panel workshop! The next workshop is in London on the 31st March (quick turnaround) but we want to gain as many voices as possible.

I'll really miss the flexibility of PhD working when I finish this year 😩 had three long and productive days, including a nearly 12 hour day yesterday, but today I've worked properly for 2 hours amid life errands and feeling incredibly drained

Reviewer comments revised on my part already for my first PhD paper!! Let's hope they're good enough after going back around the co-authors and then to the editor 🤞🏼

Thesis writing with Silent Witness which is basically a podcast to me now✨ *Partner is watching something on the TV which I have 0 interest in so it's easy to ignore*

People have a right to be safe at schools. & at concerts. & at movie theaters. & at shopping malls. & at places of worship.

The US government’s suspension of most foreign aid is putting lives around the world at risk. Any new administration is entitled to review existing foreign aid, but continuing the delivery of important assistance is critical while the review is conducted.

First *live webinar of 2025 attended! This webinar explored the use of PhotoVoice to show lived experiences of dementia for #LGBTQIA+ communities. It's such an important topic and method to hear the stories of LGBTQIA+ people with dementia from the persons themselves and NOT from others 💪🏼✨

2025, the year my PhD comes to an end 🥴

Word of the Day is one I keep posting at the end of the year, hoping its time will come. ‘Respair’, from the 16th century, is fresh hope, and a recovery from despair. Here’s to a few drops of respair in 2025.

🎉 New bulletin publication detailing the project I'm working on as part of my PhD regarding the collaboration with the WHO🎉 It can be found here: www.wapr.org/bulletin-arc... This is the first piece to come from my PhD and the second is currently under peer review ✨ A good way to end 2024!

So grateful that I'm joining (well, officially joining) a team that have shown and continue to show they really want me for the person I am and my work rather than need me for their own benefit. And it means I get to do more dementia research collaborating with people with lived experience 😍

Sunday reading made cosy with Christmas lights and football in the background 📚

There is immense power in supporting people living with #dementia to use their abilities rather than reminding them of what they are losing. This is a beautiful example of a strengths-based, interests-based, #kindness-based approach. (via @josephfasano.bsky.social) #Alzheimers #poetry

Well we made it to 23 minutes #SaintsFC 🤦🏼‍♀️

In case some mentors may want to read this. #Nature #PhD #scisky #student #mentor Source: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Both supervisors and my new project manager (I say new, I've been working on said project for 5 months) have told me to be kind to myself and make sure I take breaks - are they trying to tell me something?🤪

My direct appeal to @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social & Keir_Starmer in the light of yesterday's vote on AD. If they sincerely care about dying people, surely now they will publicly & urgently commit to properly funding our threadbare, neglected palliative care? www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Well I'll take not losing Saints!! Shame most of our better players won't be able to play on Wednesday though🤦🏼‍♀️ #SaintsFC

Love how cosy the room becomes with the tree up✨

Taking a step back, I wrote about the question of whether our politicians and health service are really fit to decide about #assisteddying at all for @bmj_latest. Do read 👇🏽 www.bmj.com/content/387/...

So glad I jumped over to Bluesky, it's so much better!!

In the week that MPs vote on assisted dying, please - please - can we all agree & act on the fact that the time to end the woeful underfunding of NHS palliative care is now? If we truly cared about dying people, we wouldn’t neglect their final days. Over to you, @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social

This was a great symposium, well worth watching the talks if you're interested!

New books📚

Never thought interview prepping would include clearing (shovelling) snow off my car the day before! Thankfully it started today but we'll have to wait until morning before I can start celebrating😂

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. I was in Chicago & did the legacy walk on North Halsted. #SylviaRiver #MarshaPJohnson There are so many transgender people of color that have & continue to fight for the freedoms we LGBTQIA+ 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 enjoy today. We must stand up against hate & violence

Today is International Trans Day of Remembrance. This is the toughest time in history to be trans and visible in the world, thanks to certain politicians, billionaires, trash media and Evangelicals. And it’s particularly tough for children and teens. Now, more than ever, we need our allies. Ty ❤️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

🗓️ Join us on Wed, 20 Nov at 12pm GMT for a unique career session in our weekly gathering! We’ll explore Writing Your Narrative CV/Resume with guests @vickigphysio.bsky.social & Emre Yavuz. Rethink the way you tell your professional story! communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/wri...

Looks like it could be a work from home day tomorrow! Was meant to be on campus for a seminar but I don't fancy risking a car accident; will have to see if it melts quickly!

It is time to shed the #prejudice of low expectations and embrace the potential for living fully with #Alzheimers disease and other forms of #dementia. (image: @leadcoalition.bsky.social) #quote