Professor Louise McCabe

Professor

Dementia and Ageing Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Louise McCabe

Contact details

About me

Louise has worked in the field of dementia studies in both practice and academia for over twenty years, starting her career as a care worker in residential homes for older people.  Louise has been a lecturer in Dementia Studies within the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2005 and was part of the team that developed the first online MSc in Dementia Studies programme, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.   In addition, Louise has an active research career and has been involved with many research and evaluation projects focused on improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Louise’s research interests lie within the fields of dementia studies and gerontology and focus on improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers through research that engages directly with individuals. Her research includes user-focused evaluations and cross-national studies of dementia care services in Europe and India. Louise’s research mainly utilises participatory, qualitative methods to engage with the experiences and views of people with dementia and their carers. Her overarching interest is in how individuals, families and services work together to support people to live well with dementia in different regions and cultural contexts.

Research projects (29)

The impact of COVID-19 Fear: evidence to inform social, health and economic recovery - a Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) study
PI: Dr Elaine Douglas
Funded by: UK Research and Innovation
–

Sit Less Move More – Creating a culture of activity and movement in a care home setting
PI: Dr Grant Gibson
Funded by: Life Changes Trust
–

Creating better lives? An Evaluation of the Life Changes Trust
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Life Changes Trust
–

ASUME Volunteering and Dementia in Norway
PI: Professor Vikki McCall
Funded by: Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen
–

COVID19 social distancing effects on social engagement, loneliness, wellbeing and physical activity in Scottish older adults, and an exploration of potential ameliorating strategies.
PI: Professor Anna Whittaker
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Personalised physical activity for people with dementia in care homes
PI: Professor Alison Bowes
Funded by: The Healthcare Management Trust
–

Social Isolation and Technology Guidelines Project
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: NHS National Services Scotland
–

Scoping exercise to support bid for project exploring the potential of technolgoy to address social isolation in Scotland
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Good night, sleep well: Impact of sleep environment innovations and effects
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Coventry University
–

The Role of Volunteers in Dementia Care
PI: Professor Vikki McCall
Funded by: Abbeyfield Society
–

British Society of Gerontology Conference 2016
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Delegates - Short Courses
–

Sight loss, dementia and meaningful activity: A scoping study’
PI:
Funded by: Thomas Pocklington Trust
–

Day care for people with dementia in Scotland
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Alzheimer Scotland
–

North Lanarkshire Integrated Addiction Service (NLIAS) Evaluation
PI:
Funded by: North Lanarkshire Council
–

Evaluation of the Dementia Home Care Environments service
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Cumbria County Council
–

Assessing the population of people with ARBD in Forth Valley and current levels of need
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: NHS Forth Valley
–

How do Forth Valley services meet identified needs and ideas for the future?
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: NHS Forth Valley
–

Best practice in the design of residential environments for people with dementia & sight loss - Stage 1
PI:
Funded by: Thomas Pocklington Trust
–

Cumbria Dementia Strategy 2012 - 2014
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Cumbria County Council
–

Evaluation of tele-psychiatry - study 2
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Ashludie Hospital and Millar MacKenzie Trust
–

Evaluation of the Memory Spinners: The Scottish Opera singing group developed in partnership with Alzheimer's Scotland
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Scottish Opera
–

Scoping Study of Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) Potential Care Markets and Services in Scotland
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: William Simpsons
–

Alcohol Related Brain Damage Scoping Study
PI:
Funded by: NHS Shetland
–

Evaluation of Harmony's project providing live music for frail and older people ("the Study")
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Harmony
–

KTP Outcomes Extension
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Fife Council
–

Knowledge Transfer Partnership Outcome.
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Fife Council
–

Knowledge Transfer Partnership KTP006647.
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Fife Council and Technology Strategy Board
–

Establishing dementia care in India: on-going translation or local adaptation?
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust
–

European Collaboration on Dementia - EuroCoDe
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
–

Outputs (59)

Article

Living and Researching the COVID-19 Pandemic: Autoethnographic Reflections from a Co-Research Team of Older People and Academics

McCabe L, Brown T, Anderson R, Chrystall L, Curry D, Fairclough M, Ritchie C, Scrutton P, Smith A & Douglas E (2024) Living and Researching the COVID-19 Pandemic: Autoethnographic Reflections from a Co-Research Team of Older People and Academics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21 (10), Art. No.: 1329. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101329

Article

Guideline summary: assessment, diagnosis, care and support for people with dementia and their carers [Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network SIGN Guideline 168]

Burton JK, Soiza RL, Quinn TJ & On behalf of the SIGN 168 guideline development group (2024) Guideline summary: assessment, diagnosis, care and support for people with dementia and their carers [Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network SIGN Guideline 168]. Age and Ageing, 53 (7), Art. No.: afae147. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae147

Article

Development of an intervention programme theory to increase movement in care homes for people with cognitive impairment: Care homes achieving realistic movement strategies (CHARMS)

Jepson RG, Dawson A, McCabe L, Greasley-Adams C, Biggs H & Bowes A (2023) Development of an intervention programme theory to increase movement in care homes for people with cognitive impairment: Care homes achieving realistic movement strategies (CHARMS). Evaluation and Program Planning, 100, Art. No.: 102348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102348

Article

". . . Exercise opportunities became very important": Scottish older adults' changes in physical activity during Covid19'

Tomaz SA, Ryde GC, Swales B, Neely KC, Andreis F, Coffee P, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Martin JG, Pina I & Whittaker AC (2022) ". . . Exercise opportunities became very important": Scottish older adults' changes in physical activity during Covid19'. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 19, Art. No.: 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-022-00295-z

Research Report

Technology And Social Connectedness

McCabe L, Brown T & Douglas C (2022) Technology And Social Connectedness [HAGIS Covid-19 And You: a qualitative study of older adults' experiences of living through COVID-19]. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/_files/ugd/5d9fd0_444ece9ade794c9db9d1f3ddaf1a05e2.pdf

Research Report

Experiences Of Health Engagement With Health Services

McCabe L, Brown T & Douglas C (2022) Experiences Of Health Engagement With Health Services [HAGIS Covid-19 and You: A qualitative report of older adults' experiences living through COVID-19]. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/_files/ugd/5d9fd0_165fd0023bd0423d9657e183f7aedc83.pdf

Research Report

Feelings Losses And Opportunities Emerging From The Pandemic

McCabe L, Brown T & Douglas C (2022) Feelings Losses And Opportunities Emerging From The Pandemic [HAGIS: Covid-19 and You - a qualitative study of older adults' experiences of living through COVID-19]. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/_files/ugd/5d9fd0_55c2be6887a743bb9139ff98f4773f5d.pdf

Research Report

HAGIS COVID Impact & Recovery Executive Summary Report

Douglas E, Bell D, Dawson A, Brown T, Pemble C, Houston J, Comerford D, Olivarius O, Duggan A, McCabe L, Douglas C, McGregor L & Coutts-Murray K (2022) HAGIS COVID Impact & Recovery Executive Summary Report. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/reports

Project Report

Evaluation of the 'Connecting Residents in Scotland's Care Homes' Programme

Gibson G, Pavlopoulou I, Wilson-Nash C & McCabe L (2022) Evaluation of the 'Connecting Residents in Scotland's Care Homes' Programme. Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care programme and Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI). Stirling. https://tec.scot/programme-areas/digital-social-care/current-activities/connecting-residents-scotlands-care-homes-evaluation#:~:text=The%20evaluation%20of%20the%20'Connecting,with%20the%20Digital%20Health%20and

Conference Paper (published)

COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Survey: how COVID-19 fear impacts social, health and economic recovery from the pandemic in people aged over 50

Brown T, Douglas E, Douglas C & McCabe L (2022) COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Survey: how COVID-19 fear impacts social, health and economic recovery from the pandemic in people aged over 50. In: Preparing for the future III: Tackling key challenges facing longitudinal population studies in a post-COVID world - Book of abstracts. CLOSER Preparing for the future III – tackling key challenges facing longitudinal population studies in a post-COVID world, Virtual, 20.01.2022. London: Closer. https://www.closer.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/Preparing-for-the-future-III-Book-of-abstracts.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

The Impact of COVID-19 Fear: Evidence To Inform Social, Health And Economic Recovery - A Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Study

Douglas E, Bell DNF, Comerford D, McCabe L, Pemble C, McGregor L & Brown T (2021) The Impact of COVID-19 Fear: Evidence To Inform Social, Health And Economic Recovery - A Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Study. In: Ageing Past, Present and Future: Innovation and Change. British Society of Gerontology 50th Annual Conference, Online, 07.07.2021-09.07.2021. Hampshire: British Society of Gerontology, p. 165. https://www.britishgerontology.org/public/31949/BSG_Conference_Book_2021_Online_v2.pdf

Article

Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tomaz SA, Coffee P, Ryde GC, Swales B, Neely KC, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Martin JG, Pina I & Whittaker AC (2021) Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (9), Art. No.: 4517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Loneliness, social support and wellbeing in Scottish older adults as a result of social distancing during the Covid19 pandemic

Whittaker AC, Tomaz SA, Ryde G, Connelly J, Coffee P, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Swales B, Martin JG, Pina I & Neely KC (2020) Loneliness, social support and wellbeing in Scottish older adults as a result of social distancing during the Covid19 pandemic. American Psychosomatic Society 2020 Virtual Meeting, Online, 03.12.2020-04.12.2020. https://psychosomatic.org/meetings/annual-meeting-2020/

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Impact of Covid19 social distancing on the social and mental health of Scottish older adults

Whittaker AC, Tomaz SA, Coffee P, Ryde G, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Neely KC, Swales B, Martin JG & Pina I (2020) Impact of Covid19 social distancing on the social and mental health of Scottish older adults. Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections 2020 Digital Conference, Online, 11.11.2020-18.11.2020. https://www.sparc.education.ed.ac.uk/conference-2020/

Conference Paper (unpublished)

The impact of Covid19 on Scottish older adults’ physical activity: Changes and associations with wellbeing

Tomaz SA, Ryde G, Connelly J, Swales B, Martin JG, Pina I, Neely KC, Coffee P, Kirkland A, Andreis F, McCabe L, Watchman K & Whittaker AC (2020) The impact of Covid19 on Scottish older adults’ physical activity: Changes and associations with wellbeing. Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections 2020 Digital Conference, Online, 11.11.2020-18.11.2020. https://www.sparc.education.ed.ac.uk/conference-2020/

Article

'What I want to do is get half a dozen of them and go and see Simon Cowell': Reflecting on participation and outcomes for people with dementia taking part in a creative musical project

McCabe L, Greasley-Adams C & Goodson K (2015) 'What I want to do is get half a dozen of them and go and see Simon Cowell': Reflecting on participation and outcomes for people with dementia taking part in a creative musical project. Dementia, 14 (6), pp. 734-750. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301213508128

Article

Evaluating the Harmony project

McCabe L & Greasley-Adams C (2012) Evaluating the Harmony project. Journal of Dementia Care, 20 (3), pp. 38-39.

Research Report

Physical activity for people with dementia: A Scoping Study

Bowes A, Dawson A, Jepson R & McCabe L (2011) Physical activity for people with dementia: A Scoping Study. Scottish Government - Chief Scientist Office. Chief Scientist Office. http://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/Publications/ExecSumms/OctNov11/MH_Bowes.pdf

Book Chapter

Building on the Lessons of Evaluations

McCabe L & Innes A (2007) Building on the Lessons of Evaluations. In: Innes A & McCabe L (eds.) Evaluation in Dementia Care. London: Jessica Kingsley, pp. 249-260.

Book Review

Perspectives on rehabilitation and dementia

McCabe L (2007) Perspectives on rehabilitation and dementia. Review of: Perspectives on Rehabilitation and Dementia. Mary Marshall (ed.) London: Jessica Kingsley. (2005) 254pp, ISBN 1-84310-286-2. Journal of Social Policy, 36 (2), pp. 361-362. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279407330845

Book Chapter

What is Evaluation?

Innes A & McCabe L (2006) What is Evaluation?. In: Innes A & McCabe L (eds.) Evaluation in Dementia Care. London: Jessica Kingsley, pp. 11-19. http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843104292

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes