Mrs Katherine Turner

Biography

I am an Occupational Therapy Lecturer with the team at Plymouth. I work on a part-time basis (0.5 FTE).

I am also a Ph.D. Student, supported by a University of Plymouth Studentship. My Ph.D. explores the core components of dementia-friendly flying, with a view to maintaining and/or increasing participation in air travel for people living with dementia and those who normally travel with them.

Qualifications

MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) - University of Cumbria

BSc (Hons) Complementary Therapies - University of Cumbria

Professional membership

Member of Health and Care Professions Council

Member of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Roles on external bodies

Member of the Prime Minister's Dementia Challenge Group for Air Transport

Teaching

Teaching interests

My teaching interests include:

Contact-based education. This recognises that the true expert in any subject is the person with lived experience of it. Contact-based education can help to challenge stigma and preconceptions in any area of health but particularly in the field of dementia.

Research practice and ethics. I am the Occupational Therapy link tutor for SOHP503 (research proposal) and SOHP605 (research project) for the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme.

Problem Based Learning (PBL). I assist the team with facilitation of problem-based learning groups within the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. PBL is a valuable learning tool that can help students to learn what it will be like to work in a multidisciplinary team within practice.

Occupational Justice. Whether we call it occupational justice or rights-based practice (a discussion for another day!) I am a firm believer in supporting people to do those things that they want, need, and have the right to do.

Research

Research interests

My main research interests include dementia-inclusive communities and accessible travel for people living with dementia and those who normally travel with them. I am also interested in social housing and the role occupational therapists can play in facilitating independence for rural-dwelling older adults.

On a personal level, I have an interest in the spiritual side of occupation, which is an area that I believe is underdeveloped within our practice. The concept of spirituality is included within occupational therapy models, but what does it mean in reality and does it mean different things to different people?

Grants & contracts

Turner, K., Warren, A., and Sherriff, I. (2020) Illustrations to promote dementia friendly flying. QR Strategic Priorities Fund, Plymouth Institute of Health Research, University of Plymouth (£2,020).

Publications

Journals

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2018) Dementia awareness and support training outside of healthcare: a realist synthesis of what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why? PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018106485. Available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=106485

Warren, A.F., Turner, K. and Chami, H. (2017) 'Working together to promote dementia friendly flying', OTnews, 25(2), pp. 40-41.

Conference Papers

Howard, M., Sherriff, I., Warren, A., Turner, K., O’Reilly, M., La Bey, L., Garcia, L., Mulvey, M., Shouse, D., Zoglin, R. & Cowie, H. (2020) 'I-D-Air travel: International dementia air travel', paper presentation, 34th Virtual International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International. Singapore, 10-12 December 2020.

Turner, K., and Tudor, D. (2019), ‘Working together to improve air travel for people living with dementia’, paper presentation, Plymouth International Dementia Conference. Plymouth, UK, 12 November.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan, K. and Sherriff, I. (2019) ‘Air travel for people with dementia: working together to identify barriers and facilitators to participation’, paper presentation, Making valuable connections - The 29th Alzheimer Europe Conference. The Hague, Netherlands, 23-25 October.

Warren, A., Sherriff, I, Turner, K., Bourne, S. Roberts, C., Goodrick, J., Chami, H and Fremantle, J. (2019) ‘Air Travel Connections: creating a hub of collaborators to enhance flight experiences for People with Dementia and their Companions’, poster presentation, Making valuable connections - The 29th Alzheimer Europe Conference. The Hague, Netherlands, 23-25 October.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2019) ‘Air travel for people living with dementia: An occupational therapy PhD study to identify the barriers and facilitators to participation’, paper presentation, Postgraduate Society Research Showcase. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK, 13 March.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2018) ‘Creating a ‘Dementia Friendly’ Flying Guide: Learning from lived experience’, poster presentation, 13th Annual UK Dementia Congress. Brighton, UK, 6-8 November.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2018) ‘Rising to the Challenge: How can we make air travel more accessible for people living with dementia across Europe and beyond?’, paper presentation, Making dementia a European priority - The 28th Alzheimer Europe Conference. Barcelona, Spain, 29-31 October.

Warren, A. and Turner, K. (2018) ‘Striving for Dementia Friendly Flying’, paper presentation, Research Showcase for the Senior Management Team, Trustees and Staff of Alzheimer’s Society. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK, 13 June.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2018) ‘Dementia friendly flying? Identifying the barriers and facilitators to air travel for people living with dementia’, paper and poster presentations, Postgraduate Society Research Showcase. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK, 21 June.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Bannigan K., and Sherriff, I. (2018) ‘How ‘Dementia Friendly’ is Air Travel? Identifying the barriers and facilitators to flying for people living with Dementia’, poster presentation, Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference. London, UK, 22 May.

Profiles

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)