THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Health in Social Science : Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in Health

Postgraduate Course: Managing Risk and Promoting Resilience in Dementia (ISSH11024)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Health in Social Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of social approaches to risk and resilience and the role that risk and resilience play in shaping the lives of people with dementia.

Notions of risk and resilience are increasingly shaping contemporary approaches to the promotion of wellbeing in dementia. By equipping students with in-depth knowledge and critical skills in social understandings of risk and resilience, the course will appeal to learners from a range of backgrounds and disciplines across the social sciences; including sociology, psychology, anthropology, nursing, public health and social work.

The course will be split into nine sessions. Sessions 1-2 will introduce students to the course and the online learning environment. Structured content and guided reading will be used to introduce students to the etymology of risk and resilience. Students will be supported to complete their formative assignment towards the end of session 2. Sessions 3-4 provide an overview of epistemological and theoretical approaches to risk. Students will explore differences between realist approaches to objectively assess risk, and interpretive approaches to understand the lived experience of risk. Practical activities (e.g. online searches) will be used to enable students to explore the influence of these epistemological approaches in shaping contemporary understandings of risk in relation to dementia. Students will then explore the relationship between risk, personal identity and culture locating orientations towards risk and risk taking within the context of late-modernity. Session 5 extends this understanding to explore social constructionist approaches to resilience, both at the level of the individual (psychological resilience) as well as the group (family resilience) and the broader collective (community resilience). Sessions 6-8 will apply these epistemological and theoretical frameworks to key contemporary issues in dementia care. Proposed topics include: experiences of being 'missing' in dementia, the 'contested territories' of everyday life, and 'dementia services meeting needs'. Session 9 will provide an opportunity for reflection and consolidation during which students will receive one-to-one feedback on their essay plans.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Develop a critical understanding of a variety of epistemological and theoretical approaches to risk and resilience.
  2. Critically apply social understandings of risk and resilience to contemporary issues in dementia care (e.g. being 'missing' and using-receiving care services).
  3. Develop a critical awareness of how social approaches to risk and resilience can promote wellbeing in dementia.
Reading List
Core texts (e-books)

Denny, D. (2005). Risk & Society, London: Sage

Zinn, J. (ed). (2008) Social Theories of Risk and Uncertainty. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing

Lupton, D. (2013) Risk. 2nd Edition. Abingdon: Routledge

Tulloch, J and Lupton, D. (2003) Risk and Everyday Life. London: Sage

Resnick, B., Gwyther, LP., and Roberto, KA. (ed). (2011) Resilience in Aging: Concepts, Research and Outcomes. New York, NY: Springer Press

Beckvar, DS. (ed). (2013) The Handbook of Family Resilience. New York, NY: Springer Press
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Charlotte Clarke
Tel: (0131 6)50 3887
Email: Charlotte.Clarke@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Sue Larsen
Tel: (0131 6)51 6671
Email: Sue.Larsen@ed.ac.uk
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