SSCR Research Trainee
I.P.C.Cunha@leeds.ac.uk
My background is in design and teaching visual arts, and in 2025 I will be finishing a Masters in Dementia Studies at Stirling University.
For the past 10 years I have worked with older people and working-age adults in residential and dementia care homes promoting residents’ wellbeing. I have a passion for dementia care and understanding ways to support people with dementia to live well. When I worked in practice, my role included working as a Practice Linking Pin (PLP) for Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds (NICHE-Leeds), a partnership between care organisations and University of Leeds (with Leeds Beckett University). In my PLP role, I provided a bridge between researchers and care homes, and helped to facilitate collaborative working to develop evidence-based solutions to topics that matter to residents, relatives and staff.
I started working as an SSCR research trainee in 2024, and this is a brilliant opportunity for developing my research skills. My research interests are around understanding ways of enhancing the care home environment for residents, and my ambition is to carry out a PhD around this topic.
Iria’s research interests include:
- Care homes
- Design and dementia
- Meaningful engagement
- Physical environment
- Creative methods
- Co-production
- Lived experience
