Dementia Care and a journey toward inclusive research
In this blog, Dr Khadidja Maameri, a visiting researcher in Paris, shares her journey through research including time as a volunteer and support worker with Alzheimer Scotland. Read on to find out more about how Khadidja’s experiences through support work and volunteering led her to discover how small moments of compassion can transform lives which has shaped her research career.
Over the past few years, I have worked closely with individuals with learning disabilities and autism, as well as people living with dementia. Through my role as a support worker and my volunteering with Alzheimer Scotland, I had the privilege of being part of therapeutic activities, community initiatives, and everyday interactions that centred dignity, trust, and human connection. Working with people living with dementia taught me something profound: that identity, memory, and belonging are at the heart of our humanity. Small moments, conversations, smiles, shared memories, and creativity, became powerful reminders of how important compassionate care truly is.
Working alongside dementia advisers and volunteers was a lifelong learning experience, full of passion, laughter, and inspiration. Delivering French classes and attending music sessions were amongst the therapeutic activities that enriched my experience. Being a first aider at St Andrews was also another community related opportunity that gave me the confidence and skills needed to work with vulnerable groups in different settings which has taught me how to show compassion and understanding to individuals.
Alongside this practical work, I was also undertaking my PhD research in social sciences, focusing on the experiences of the Algerian students with disabilities and the wider issue of social inclusion. My research explored how educational environments and social attitudes can either support or marginalise learners with disabilities. The overlap between my research and my support work was centred on listening, empathy, and ensuring that no one is excluded from opportunities, community, or dignity.
These experiences strengthened my belief that inclusion must be lived, not merely discussed. That is why my PhD research focused on inclusion policies and interventions at the interface between theory and practice. Simply pointing out barriers and challenges to inclusion is not sufficient; it must be accompanied by a rigorous assessment and follow-up of policy implementation in order to identify changes, improvements, or necessary adjustments and to determine policy successes and failures based on real-life experiences.
I moved to France to continue my research journey. It is an exciting new beginning and another opportunity to contribute to meaningful work in the field of public health and social inclusion. Scotland will always remain a special place in my story. It is where I grew as a researcher, a practitioner, and a person.
The lessons and the kindness I experienced at Alzheimer Scotland will stay with me always. For that, I remain deeply grateful for the colleagues, dementia advisors, volunteers, and families who trusted me and allowed me to learn alongside them. The organisation offered me a community where learning, caring, and reflecting were not separate, but part of one shared commitment to supporting others.
My time in Scotland has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life, a journey that brought together my passion for research on social justice, and supporting people in vulnerable situations. As I look back, I realise how deeply these experiences have shaped both my personal values and my academic path.
You can follow Dr Maameri via LinkedIn here