I am a Reader in Social Gerontology and Social Work at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. Read about the Health and Social Care research cluster.

My key research interests are: mental health in later life; older carers, including dementia carers; and service development.

Career

I have been working at SSPSSR since 1995.  I’ve worked in two of the school’s research units - the Personal Social Services research unit and the Tizard Centre - before moving to the Social Work group as a Reader in 2010.

I have an extensive background in social work and social work management. For three years I was also a Visiting Fellow at the Nuffield Institute for Health at the University of Leeds (1998-2001). Since 2009, I have been an Honorary Research Fellow at Canterbury Christchurch University Dementia Services Development Centre.  

Education

I have a first degree from the University of Liverpool in Geography (1980) and a social work qualification from Goldsmiths College (1985). I also have an MA in Social Policy and Social Research and a PhD in Social Policy. 

• Dening, T and Milne, A (2012) Mental Health in Care Homes for Older People, in T. Dening and A. Thomas (Eds) The Oxford Textbook of Old Age Psychiatry, Oxford University Press.
• Dening, T & Milne, A. (Eds) (2011) Mental Health and Care Homes, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• Milne, A (2011) Living with Dementia in a Care Home: Capturing the Experiences of Residents, Quality in Ageing and Older Adults Special Issue, Dementia Care: a positive future, 12(2), 76-85.
• Milne, A (2010) The D word: Reflections on the Relationship between Stigma and Dementia, Journal of Mental Health, 19(3), 227-233.
• Hamilton-West, K., Milne, A., et al (2010) Help-seeking in Relation to Signs of Dementia: The Role of Illness Representations, Psychology, Health and Medicine, 15(5), 540-549.
• Milne, A (2010) Dementia Screening and Early Diagnosis: the case for and against, Special Issue of Health, Risk & Society, 12(1), 65-76.
• Dening, T and Milne, A (2009) Depression & Mental Health in Care Homes, Quality in Ageing Special Issue: Depression, Suicide and Self-Harm in Older Adults, 10(2), 40-46.
• Milne, A., Culverwell., A., Guss., R., Tuppen, J and Whelton, R (2008) Screening for dementia in primary care: a review of the efficacy and quality of tools and measures, International Psychogeriatrics, 20(5): 911-926.
• Milne, A., Hatzidimitriadou, E and Wiseman, J (2007) Health and Quality of Life amongst Older People in Rural England: Exploring the Impact and Efficacy of Policy, Journal of Social Policy, 36(3): 477-495.
• Milne A and Chryssanthopoulou, C (2005) Dementia Caregiving in Black and Asian Populations: Reviewing and Refining the Research Agenda, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 15: 319-337.
• Warner, J., Milne, A & Peet, J (2010) ‘My name is not Dementia': Literature review, Alzheimer’s Society: London
• Vickerstaff, S., Loretto, W., Milne, A., Alden, E., Billings, J and White, P (2009) Employment Support for Carers, Department for Work & Pensions: London.
• Milne, A (2009) Mental Well Being in Later Life, in T. Williamson (Ed) Older People’s Mental Health Today: a handbook. Mental Health Foundation & Pavilion Publishing, Brighton.
• Milne, A (2009) Promoting Mental Health in Later Life, in T. Williamson (Ed) Older People’s Mental Health Today: a handbook. Mental Health Foundation & Pavilion Publishing, Brighton.
  

Research interests

My key research interests are: mental health in later life; older carers, including dementia carers; and service development.

Current

My current work focuses primarily on late life caring, particularly dementia caregiving, services for older people with dementia and the quality of life - and care - of people living with dementia in a care home.

I am seeking funding for work to explore the roles, needs and conceptual status of long term dementia carers and the role of interactive personalised care systems in promoting quality of life in care homes for people with dementia.

Recent

• A study of working carers
• Analysis of adult protection data for Kent and Medway Social Services Departments
• A ground breaking review of dementia screening instruments
• An evaluation of an intermediate care service for people with dementia
• An evaluation of a psycho-educational support service for relatives of people with early stage dementia, and
• A review of psychosocial well being in people with an early diagnosis of dementia.

Other work includes contributions to professional training and good practice guidance including authoring a set of e-learning objects for the Social Care Institute for Excellence entitled an ‘Introduction to the Mental Health of Older People’. I have received funding from a range of sources including the Department of Health, the Mental Health Foundation, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Nuffield Foundation.  

Past

Between August 2000 and January 2004, I was seconded for two days a week to the Mental Health Foundation, a UK-wide charity based in London.

My remit was to co-lead the development of a programme of research and service development in “Mental Health & Later Life”. Projects included: an evaluation of a nation-wide scheme of early intervention services for people with dementia and an analysis of the support needs of older Asians with dementia in north west Kent.

Supervision

I am seeking a PhD student to further develop work in the field of family care and care homes, although I am happy to explore other issues. Particular foci include: “becoming” or developing into a “carer”, the promotion of self and identity amongst care home residents with dementia, mealtimes and care homes, and the meaning of home for care home residents.

If you have a proposal in these areas and you are interested in studying at the University of Kent, please contact me for to discuss further.

Current

I teach on the Social Work programme based at the University’s Medway campus. I also contribute to postgraduate teaching at Canterbury.

My teaching is primarily focused on ageing, mental health and later life, caregiving and age and care-related policy and services.

Memberships

• Member of the National Health and Clinical Excellence Quality Standards Topic Expert Group: Social care for people with dementia (2011/12)
• Member of the Standing Commission on Carers (2009-)
• Member of the British Society of Gerontology Executive Committee (2009-)
• Registered with the General Social Care Council
• Trustee of a Kent-based dementia charity.
  

Websites of interest in this field

• British Society of Gerontology