Jen Roberts is a researcher at DSDC Wales. She has an interest in looking at ways to support people with dementia to live as well as possible following the diagnosis.

Her research interests include:

  • How people living with dementia experience resilience, and how to support people to maintain their resilience after a diagnosis of dementia.
  • Experiences of people living with dementia in rural areas, and how they may be improved for others in the future.
  • Central to her work are co-production and ensuring that the voices of lived experience are heard. Jen works closely with the Caban group, who are a group of people affected by dementia that help guide research, teaching, creating useful resources.

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

  • PublishedTimely diagnosis of dementia? Family carers' experiences in 5 European countries
    Woods, B., Arosio, F., Diaz, A., Gove, D., Holmerová, I., Kinnaird, L., Mátlová, M., Okkonen, E., Possenti, M., Roberts, J., Salmi, A., van den Buuse, S., Werkman, W. & Georges, J., Jan 2019, In: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 34, 1, p. 114-121 8 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

2011

2010

2025

2024

  • Working to help future generations to support people affected by dementia.

    Session Facilitated by Jen Williams.

    Ronnie Dean and her son Will are going to discuss how they both work to help future generations to support people affected by dementia.

    Ronnie is living with a diagnosis of young onset Alzheimer’s disease and is a member of the Caban group at Bangor University. As an expert by experience, Ronnie shares her valuable knowledge and experiences with students in the schools of medical and health sciences, helping them to understand what is important to know about living with dementia as they begin their careers.

    Will is the digital marketing manager at Race Against Dementia and is a youth lead at Lorenzo’s House - a global (virtual) community of sons and daughters of a parent who lives with or has lived with young onset dementia. He will share his response to his mum’s diagnosis and share his lessons from speaking with dementia experts, both with the fancy degrees and experts through experience from across the globe. The future generations are and will be young people - Will shares youth engagement insights including the power of peer support.

    14 Nov 2024

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • The experience of dementia in farming communities

    20 minute oral presentation.

    Abstract:

    People living with dementia in rural areas are faced with numerous difficulties in accessing support (Hodgson et al., 2024; Roberts et al, 2023). These may be exacerbated further within farming communities, as they require support beyond a 9 to 5 schedule.

    In response to the limited understanding of the lived experience of dementia in farming communities, as well as how best to support them, we conducted a scoping review of peer reviewed studies and grey literature to identify what is already known about the experiences of people living in farming communities affected by dementia.

    Eighteen articles (6 peer-reviewed; 12 grey literature) were eligible for inclusion in the review. Preliminary findings from a thematic analysis indicated six overarching themes and seventeen subthemes within. The overarching themes included caregiver challenges; farming culture; impact on family dynamics and succession; farming operations; isolation and lack of support; and community support.

    This is the first step in our research aiming to understand the experiences of people affected by dementia in farming communities, and how they may be best supported. As part of this work, we are also eager to hear the voices and experiences of people currently living with or caring for someone living with dementia in farming communities in Wales, and those who support them both professionally and informally.

    5 Nov 2024

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • Knowledge is Power - working together to co-create important resources

    22 Oct 2024

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
  • Wales Dementia Conference 2024: A Collaborative Success for a Better Future in Dementia Care

    The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) successfully hosted the Wales Dementia Conference 2024 in Deganwy as part of the 25th anniversary of the DSDC celebrations.

    Over 90 delegates from across Wales engaged in discussions about the future of dementia care and support. The conference brought together people living with dementia, carers, researchers, health and care professionals, emphasising the importance of collaboration in shaping better care.

    A key highlight of the day was the launch of the Knowledge is Power for Carers booklet, a resource created by carers for carers, supported by DSDC researchers, available in both Welsh and English. This essential guide provides crucial information to those supporting individuals living with dementia and was well-received by attendees.

    A diverse range of presenters delivered insightful talks, including the Welsh Ambulance Trust, NHS, Dementia Hub Swansea, with people living with dementia and their carers sharing their experiences throughout the day while attendees contributed to discussions on improving dementia services. The bilingual conference ensured accessibility, with simultaneous translation headsets provided for participants.

    Gill Windle, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Research, said, “This was another excellent event designed and delivered by the DSDC team. Feedback from delegates indicates they enjoyed the wide variety of presentations where we heard about excellent service innovations such as transforming ambulances, using national museums to support wellbeing, understanding a person’s life story to enable people in care homes to eat and drink well, the importance of the Welsh language in dementia care, the benefits of arts activities and movement to music, which included all the delegates taking part in a reviving session led by Gwynedd Council’s Dementia Actif team. We heard throughout the day from people with dementia and their carers about their experiences, including Bangor’s own Caban Group, which delegates found especially important. It was also a great opportunity to share our latest research and all the different products our work has inspired.”

    The Knowledge is Power booklet will soon be available on the DSDC website. For hard copies please contact Dr. Jen Roberts: j.roberts@bangor.ac.uk

    18 Sep 2024

    Links:

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor)
  • Knowledge is Power - working together to co-create important resources

    1 Aug 2024

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
  • Talking with a group of carers at Mirili Mon about Knowledge is Power booklets

    18 Jun 2024

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
  • Intergenerational sport event as part of dementia awareness week

    Celebrating inclusive communities at the start of Dementia Action week through Intergenerational sports

    13 May 2024

    Activity: Other (Contributor)
  • Intergnerational sports event

    13 May 2024

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition (Contributor)
  • Supporting people living with dementia and their carers: Research from Bangor University.

    Sharing research findings at the North Wales Regional Partnership Community Engagement Celebratory Event in the North Wales Police Divisional Headquarters

    Blogs from the day:

    Welsh https://www.cydweithredfagogleddcymru.cymru/digwyddiad-dathlu-dementia/

    English https://www.northwalescollaborative.wales/dementia-celebration-event/

    14 Mar 2024

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
  • Development of a new outcome measure of resilience for people living with dementia: the Bangor dementia resilience scale

    Plenary Presentation: Development of a new outcome measure of resilience for people living with dementia: the Bangor dementia resilience scale

    2024

    Links:

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2023

  • Dementia Voices in the driving seat of groups, research and support - DEEP, Dementia Enquirers and Knowledge is Power.

    Discussing the development of the Knowledge is Power resources with experts by experience

    7 Nov 2023

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • Developing bi-lingual peer guides to living with dementia: the Knowledge is Power series

    A diagnosis of dementia can be life-altering with post-diagnosis support advice often described as overwhelming or lacking. Recent research on resilience suggests that a sense of purpose and peer support contribute to a strengths-based approach. The Knowledge is Power series developed from discussions within a peer group of dementia advocates and educators working together to share important information and useful adaptations for people following a diagnosis of dementia to maintain or explore new interests. Human-centered design principles informed the creative process adopting four phases to Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver the booklets. Members of Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP) groups across Wales were invited to suggest the content based on their own experiences and were instrumental in the booklet design and promotion. Academics and Graphic designers helped to format, translate, and distribute the booklets. Hard copies and online versions of the first bilingual Knowledge is Power 1 booklet in Wales (Welsh and English) have been distributed to health and social care practitioners, third-sector organisations, and members living with dementia. The second edition, “Knowledge is Power 2: Handy and helpful tips for day-to-day life with dementia” was completed in 2022. Feedback from the first edition informed a revised edition in 2023 with increasing demand for copies. A bilingual (Scottish Gaelic and English) booklet was subsequently created in Scotland highlighting the importance of providing information that is accessible and respects people's native language. Information on the process and feedback will be shared to support others that may wish to develop national post-diagnosis resources. This contributes to the process of co-creating support with rather than for people living with dementia.

    18 Oct 2023

    Links:

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • Alzheimer's Europe- New opportunities in dementia care, policy and research

    Poster presentation: Dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support in Wales: The lived experience

    17 Oct 2023

    Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Speaker)
  • DSDC Wales research centre - The Caban group

    12 Oct 2023

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • Dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support in Wales: The lived experience

    28 Sep 2023

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • International Psychogeriatric Association Conference

    Poster presentation: “This has been far from easy”: How do people affected by dementia in Wales experience their diagnosis, and how can it be improved?

    29 Jun 2023 – 2 Jul 2023

    Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Speaker)
  • Addressing the main barriers to diagnosis

    A panel discussion including the main barriers to diagnosis, specific barriers experienced within each of the three nations, the shared challenges and what may be done improve dementia care.

    18 May 2023

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

2022