With Jean, I am a Founder-Director of Life Story Network, the original host organisation of tide. I was formerly the National Programme Lead for Older People, Dignity and Dementia in the Department of Health in England. I am currently the vice-chair of the Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance and represents tide at the Dementia and Housing Working Group, the Merseyside and Cheshire Dementia Network, the North West Coast Applied Research Collaboration and the National Steering group for the Dementia Care Standards in Wales.

I was inspired to help create a UK wide network in 2008, when I heard Ken Holt talking at a conference workshop about the life story he had written for his wife, who had dementia and lived in a care home. He told us that he thought we needed a national network to spread the word about life story work across the country. Working in the Department of Health at the time, I was able to allocate a small amount of funding to bring some like-minded people together to work out how to realise Ken’s vision.

Through listening and coming to a deep understanding of the preferences and aspirations of individuals, life story work enables dignified and respectful care. Tide therefore connects us with that original inspiration from Ken. I want to encourage many more carers to get involved, speak out and use their experience to influence policy, practice and research UK wide.

Publications: Kaiser, P. and Eley, R. (2017) Life Story Work with People with Dementia: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary People. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2017.