Personal profile
Research overview
My research interests lie in the psychology of dementia where cognitive and social perspectives meet, with a focus on the communication difficulties experienced by people with dementia and those who care for them. I am particularly interested in the interplay between the cognitive and social impact of dementia on personhood and the self of individuals with dementia. I am committed to carrying out high quality research, applying a range of mixed methods to real world problems.
My external work involves consultancy and training dementia care staff.
Academic/Professional Qualification
MBE for services to dementia care and the citizens of St Andrews, 2022
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Development of a psychological model and recommendations for measuring intensive/adaptive interaction when used as a psychological intervention
Doswell, S. & Ellis, M., 21 Oct 2025, Integrating intensive interaction principles into psychological practice. Doswell, S. & Ellis, M. (eds.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, p. 147-156Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
Exploring the barriers to implementing adaptive interaction in practice
Ellis, M. & Astell, A., 21 Oct 2025, Integrating intensive interaction principles into psychological practice. Doswell, S. & Ellis, M. (eds.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, p. 107-117Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
From ‘living death’ to ‘becoming-with’: caring for dementia beyond the human
Mentzou, A., Ross, J., Ellis, M. & Harrison, M., 26 Aug 2025, In: Health Sociology Review. 34, 3, p. 329-345 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Helping families to use the principles of intensive interaction with people living with advanced dementia
Ellis, M., Connell-McGrath, C. & Astell, A., 21 Oct 2025, Integrating intensive interaction principles into psychological practice. Doswell, S. & Ellis, M. (eds.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, p. 75-90Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
Integrating intensive interaction principles into psychological practice
Doswell, S. (Editor) & Ellis, M. (Editor), 21 Oct 2025, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 170 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Datasets
-
Communicating with people living with dementia who are nonverbal: the creation of Adaptive Interaction (dataset)
Ellis, M. P. (Creator) & Astell, A. J. (Creator), Figshare, 2017
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.5161384
Dataset
Projects
- 3 Finished
-
Meaningful Engagement in Advanced Dementia (MEAD)
Astell, A. (PI) & Ellis, M. (CoI)
Alzheimer’s Association - Advancing Research on Care and Outcome Measures (ARCOM)
1/02/24 → 31/01/26
Project: Standard
-
Internship in Adaptive Interaction: Internship in Adaptive Interaction
Ellis, M. (PI)
28/05/18 → 20/07/18
Project: Studentship
-
Co-development of training and education: SFC Innovation Voucher
Ellis, M. (PI)
3/02/14 → 28/06/14
Project: Standard
Activities
-
Bright Club St Andrews: Halloween Edition
May, B. (Organiser), Ellis, M. (Participant), Fink, J. (Participant) & Sadler, P. (Participant)
28 Oct 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a public festival/exhibition/event
-
Creating Dementia Friendly Future Generations: Changing Understanding and Attitudes about Dementia in Children Through Storybooks
Ellis, M. (Speaker)
25 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
-
Communicating and maintaining connection with people who have dementia and can no longer speak
Ellis, M. (Speaker)
30 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
-
Intensive interaction for people with Dementia: a developing story in supporting family members and services with dementia in care
Ellis, M. (Speaker)
18 Oct 2021Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
-
Interview on Adaptive Interaction
Ellis, M. (Participant)
2020 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
Prizes
-
Finalist in Converge Challenge Impact Competition
Ellis, M. P. (Recipient), 25 Sept 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Semi finalist in Converge Challenge Impact competition
Ellis, M. (Recipient), 20 May 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
-
Press/Media
-
How the hokey cokey in Whitfield helped Tayside expert change the way we communicate with dementia patients
29/03/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
-
Dementia - music and the power of non-verbal communication
21/02/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
-
Rethinking Dementia with Adaptive Interaction
23/09/21
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Relating to Research
-
Adaptive Interaction Training with Dr Maggie Ellis
8/09/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
-