Deborah O’Connor, PhD, RSW

Contact

Deborah O’Connor
Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia
University of British Columbia
2080 West Mall, Vancouver, BC
Canada V6T 1Z2

Phone: (604)822-5299
Email: deborah.oconnor@ubc.ca

Positions Held

  • Director, Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia
  • Professor, School of Social Work, UBC

Education

  • Ph.D, Wilfrid Laurier University
  • MSW, University of Toronto
  • BSW, University of Windsor

Research Interests

Using social justice and relational lenses, my work in the field of dementia examines the interface between living with dementia, family care, and the use of formal support services. A critical core of my work is focused on exploring how personal experiences of persons with dementia and family carers are shaped by and within broader socio-cultural contexts and advocating for less oppressive practices and societal discourses. Notions of social citizenship underpin much of my work. I am committed to translating theory and research developments into concrete professional practice, particularly in the areas of of  assessing incapacity,  developing strength-based practice models,  and responding to situations of abuse.

Current / Recent Research Projects

Support Services, Personhood and Dementia Care:  Exploring the Interface

  • Principal Investigator(s): O’Connor, D.
  • Co-Investigator(s): Phinney, A., Hulko,W., Donnelly, M.
  • Awards / Funding: Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC), Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF), Nursing Care Partnership (NCP), Institute of Aging (IA), Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) (2005)

Researching personhood in dementia: Investigating measurement issues

  • Principal Investigator(s): O’Connor, D.
  • Co-Investigator(s): Small, J.,  Phinney, A., Donnelly, M., Purves, B., Drance, E., Graf, P., Smith, A.
  • Awards / Funding: CIHR one time international  opportunity grant (March 2004 - February 2005)

Exploring Change Patterns of Involvement in Everyday Activities and Social Interactions of Persons with a Recent Diagnosis of Dementia and Determining the Effect of these Changes on Self Understanding

  • Principal Investigator(s): Phinney, A.
  • Co-Investigator(s): O’Connor, D., Chaudhury, H.
  • Awards / Funding: SSHRC (2005)

Exploring the impact of family support groups

  • Principal Investigator(s): O’Connor, D.
  • Co-Investigator(s): Perry, J., Kobayashi, K.
  • Awards / Funding: SSHRC

Exploring the experiences of Japanese Canadian family members caring for a relative with dementia

  • Principal Investigator(s): Perry, J.
  • Co-Investigator(s): O’Connor, D., Kobayashi, K.

Publications

Books/Book Chapters

  • Bartlett, R. and O’Connor, D. (2010) Broadening the Dementia Debate: Toward Social Citizenship. London: The Policy Press.
  • O’Connor, D. and Purves, B. (eds.) (2009) Decision-Making, Personhood and Dementia: Exploring the Interface. London: Jessica Kingsley Press.
  • Baldwin, C., Capstick, A., Phinney, A., Purves, B., O’Connor, D., Chaudhury, H., and Bartlett, R. (2007) Conceptualizing personhood in Dementia. In C. Baldwin & Capstick, A.(Eds.) Tom Kitwood on Dementia: A reader and critical commentary (pp.171-188). Toronto

Articles

  • O’Connor, D. (2010) Personhood and Dementia: Toward a Relational Framework for Assessing Decisional  Capacity. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice,5(3), 22-30.
  • O’Connor, D. (2010) Understanding and Assessing (In) Capacity: Promoting Social Work Competence. Perspectives, 32(3).
  • O’Connor, D., Phinney, A. and Hulko, W. (2010) Dementia at the Intersections: Exploring social location in the dementia experience. Journal of Aging Studies ,24(4).
  • O’Connor, D., Hall, M. & Donnelly, M. (2009) Assessing capacity in a context of abuse. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect.
  • Chan, S.M. and O’Connor, D. (2009) Finding a Voice: The Experiences of Chinese Family Members Participating in Family Support Groups. Social Work with Groups ,31(2), 117-135.
  • Sims-Gould, J. and O’Connor, D. (2008) Family Caregiver Support: Identifying the Role of a Provincial Organization in the Provision of Regionally Based Support. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health ,26(2), 107-121.
  • Phinney, A., Chaudhury, H., and O’Connor, D. (2007) Doing as much as I can: Exploring meaningful activity in dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 11(4), 384-393.
  • O’Connor, D. (2007) Developing a caregiver identity: the positioning process. Journal of Aging Studies, 21, 165-174.
  • Bartlett, R.L. and O’Connor, D. (2007) From Personhood to Citizenship: Broadening the lens for dementia practice and research. Journal of Aging Studies, 21, 107-118.
  • Shemerani-Shakir, F., and O’Connor, D. (2006) Aging in a foreign country: Voices of Iranian women aging in Canada. Journal of Women and Aging, 18(2), 73-90.

Reports

  • O’Connor, D. (2009) Program Evaluation of the Abuse Against Older Adults Partnership Pilot. Report submitted to Family Services of Greater Vancouver, February, 2009.
  • O’Connor, D. (2009) Incapability Assessments: A Review of Assessment and Screening Tools. Report commissioned by the Public Guardian and Trustee’s Office. Available at www.trustee.bc.ca

Research Grants

  • Canadian Institute on Health Research (CIHR) (2008-2011) Multicultural perspectives of family caregiving for aging population. (Co-principal investigator)
  • Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia (2009) Assessing Capacity: Critical Review and Recommendations regarding Existing Assessment Tools (Sole-researcher)
  • Family Services of Greater Vancouver (2008-2009) Evaluation of two Elder Abuse Response Partnership Pilot Programs (Lead-researcher)