Stirling volunteer with Alzheimer's shares lived experience with nursing students

Joan Lyon, a 75-year-old retired Episcopalian priest and grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2023, regularly speaks to almost 100 first-year nursing and paramedic students at Stirling University about living with dementia.

Lyon volunteers with the university's Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), contributes to research and tests dementia-friendly products, and is central to the Being Dementia Smart module, the first in the UK to include dementia design for undergraduate nurses and paramedics.

She said she first noticed changes in 2022 after family pointed out she was repeating questions and emails, and received her diagnosis on Hogmanay 2023. A chance encounter on campus with her dog led her to offer help to the centre and to begin giving talks.

DSDC staff say Lyon brings a person-led perspective to teaching, choosing what she shares to emphasise dignity, choice and the reality that dementia can affect anyone. Students described her talks as inspiring, insightful and likely to change how they care for people with dementia.

Lyon still lives independently, continues to drive with annual assessments, and plans to lecture while she can. Her work with the university earned a Great British Care Award, and she hopes other institutions adopt similar teaching to improve understanding of how common dementia is.

Key Topics

Science, United States, Health, Dementia, Nursing Education, Stirling University, Lived Experience