Pamela Nichols

Lecturer at Curtin University | Dementia and Ageing Researcher

Professional Area: Dementia

My research focuses on

• Working with dementia patients, their families and those who care for them to find better ways to care for people with dementia

My research aims to

• Improve the care of people with dementia whilst in hospitals
• Educate carers and families on best practices to support and care for someone with dementia

I work closely with

• Alzheimer’s WA
• Dementia Behaviour Advisory Service
• Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital
• Murdoch University

Pam’s Story

I was a dementia researcher when my mother was diagnosed with dementia in 2000. I supported my sister as the primary carer from afar whilst they lived in Tasmania and continued my work with a much more personal stake. My ongoing passion and commitment to researching dementia had also now become one of advocacy and understanding how in my position I can also advocate for dementia patients and better care practices.

I worked at Alzheimer’s WA for 10 years in a number of positions, most notably in education. I ran training programs for hospital staff on person-centred care of patients with dementia that  went hand-in hand with the research I was doing in best practice to better support and care for dementia patients. My time at Alzheimer’s WA has me working closely with carers, families and friends of dementia patients, working with social support groups and was acknowledged as a sub-editor on the World Health Organizations report on Global Dementia.

Now here at Curtin University, I supervise Masters and PhD students who are working on dementia related issues whilst continuing my research. My own knowledge and skills now range from psychosocial support for people with dementia and their support team as well as understanding what we can do for individualised support people living with dementia, their family carers and and the broader health system working in this area in achieving overall wellbeing.