Page 7 - Ageing and Dementia: A compendium of New Zealand research literature

We are all aware of the challenge of supporting increasing numbers of people with dementia in
Aotearoa / New Zealand as our community ages. However, until now, we have not known what local
research and writing tell us about how we might do this.
Dr.P.S.D.V. Prasadarao with others has compiled a comprehensive database of published and
unpublished work in this area. The information will be widely disseminated and available to people from
across the dementia spectrum: people with dementia and their support-partners, volunteers, clinicians,
academics, policy-makers and the general public.
With increased knowledge, we hope for greater understanding of the condition and better care.
Another great advantage of this work is that we can identify gaps in our knowledge and direct research
into these areas.
I am hugely grateful to those who willingly shared their research and insights, making this collection
possible. I hope that researchers and writers themselves will now be more readily accessible to others
who want to investigate similar areas or to share ideas. In a small country like our own, with limited
research funding, the more we can collaborate, the better.
Dr Chris Perkins
Director
Selwyn Centre for Ageing and Spirituality
The Selwyn Foundation, Auckland