what is Stand by Me?

​This UK-wide research aimed to find out more about the experiences of couples with a learning disability when one partner has dementia. The impetus for the study came from Andrew, a married man with a learning disability and dementia. In collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland, University of Edinburgh and Key we used life story interviews to talk with people with a learning disability in, or previously in, a relationship. We interviewed family members and staff who supported one or both partners in their relationship. For further information and to download stories of the couples who took part please visit the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities website. Publicly available resources and open access articles are available below.  

In October 2023 the Stand by Me team won the Diversity through Education award at the Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards. ​

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freely available publications

• Stand by Me project report
• Article: Experiences of people with intellectual disability and dementia
• Easy read version: Experiences of people with intellectual disability and dementia
• Article: Couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia
• Easy read version: Couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia

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This work was supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust. Image at top of page reproduced from Jenny's Diary with permission.