Good Life with Dementia – Research findings

The Good Life course is a 6- 7-week course where people with dementia can talk about their experiences and support each other to live as well as they can. People with dementia co-design each course and act as peer-tutors with support from a professional facilitator.

In 2023, the University of York carried out research, including interviews and observations of two Good Life courses, to understand how it could help people living with dementia.

Researchers also held focus groups with people from South Asian communities to hear how the course might work in different settings.

Key findings:

• The Good Life course helped people living with dementia to feel valued, gain confidence, build connections and face challenges.
• This was possible because the course created a safe space characterised by shared experience, equality, positive expectations and a friendly, trusting atmosphere.
• A safe space could look different for different communities but would be welcomed by all.
• South Asian people who were asked about the approach welcomed the opportunity for support and advice but wanted parallel courses for the carers of people with dementia.

You can view a video presentation of our research findings, which also includes the personal story of Irene Donaldson, a peer-tutor who delivers the Good Life course for STAND. Irene was a co-researcher on the Good Life research and brings a wealth of experience (both to the research and to her role as a Good Life tutor). 

Download findings here:

• Key messages for everyone (PDF , 447kb)
• Key messages for professionals (PDF , 306kb)

View a recorded presentation about the Good Life with Dementia model together with findings from the University of York research.

The presentation was given by Kate Gridley (University of York) and Damian Murphy (Innovations in Dementia) to the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB Research Community of Practice on 5th Sept 2024. 

Good Life Slides for ICB research community of practice (MS PowerPoint , 17,828kb)

To find out more about the Good Life with Dementia research, contact kate.gridley@york.ac.uk or visit the University of York Good Life with Dementia Research webpage