Dr Geraldine Boyle

Professional biography

Young carers/young adult carers; gendered caring; gender and disability; living with dementia; mental capacity law and decision-making; lived experience of long-term conditions; creative methods; research ethics.

Professional/Research Networks:

Lead for International research/practice network on young people’s gendered caring

Member - Eurocarers (European Association Working for Carers)

Member - Young Carers Alliance

Research Roles:

Social Care Research Ethics Committee;

ESRC Peer Review College;

Deputy Chair, OU Carers Research Group; 

Editorial Board for the Journal: Disability and Society;

European Editor, Health and Social Care in the Community (2017-2020).

Teaching Qualifications:

Postgrad. Cert. in Higher Education Practice;

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Programme Lead

​Doctorate in Health and Social Care 

(Previously) MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice

Module Chair:

​K827: Leading healthcare improvements

k828: Researching and evaluating practice

K829: Transforming professional practice

Academic Author/Contributor:

Undergraduate

K101: Introduction to health and social care.

K236: Extending your contribution to healthcare practice.

K210: Understanding nursing: knowledge and theory.

K316: Exploring practice.

K319: Adulthood, ageing and the lifecourse.

Postgraduate:

K805: Advancing Clinical Practice.

External Examiner:

MSc in Dementia Studies, University of Stirling (2015-2019).

BBC Co-Production 

Academic Advisor, Our Dementia Choir (2019); Dementia and Us (2021)

Acaemic lead, linked public engagement events in Belfast and Cardiff (2019)

Open Learn Resources

1. Writing your research proposal (2023)

Writing your research proposal - OpenLearn - Open University

2. Who are young carers and what do they do? (2021):

Who are young carers and what do they do? - OpenLearn - Open University

3. People with dementia and meaning in music (2019): 

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/social-care-social-work/people-dementia-and-meaning-music

​4. Music, culture and dementia (2019): 

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/social-care-social-work/music-culture-and-dementia

Articles in professional journals and consultation responses

1. Boyle, G. (2013) Written evidence to the House of Lords Mental Capacity Act 2005 Select Committee, Evidence Volume 1, 20^th December: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/Mental-Capacity-Act-2005/mental-capacity-act-2005-vol1.pdf

2. V. Williams, T. Williamson, Boyle, G. et al. (2013) Written evidence to the House of Lords Mental Capacity Act 2005 Select Committee, Evidence Volume 2, 20^th December: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/Mental-Capacity-Act-2005/mental-capacity-act-2005-vol2.pdf

3.  Williamson, T., Boyle, G. et al (2012) Listening to the lady in the bed: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 in practice for older people, Elder Law Journal, 2 (2), pp. 127-134.

4. Boyle G., Williams V. et al (2012) Making best interests decisions – are professionals getting it right?, Journal of Dementia Care, Nov/Dec, 19-21.

Making decisions when you or someone you know has dementia 

(this project was funded by the ESRC):

There is a link to a short film giving practical advice on making decisions on the left-hand side of this webpage. 

You can read a handbook which provides advice to people with memory problems or dementia and their families about making decisions. Urdu and Polish versions are also provided.

Feel free to download and share these resources (e.g. with Wellbeing Cafes, community groups, memory clinics):

Handbook in English:

/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/files/gboyle%20Decision-making%20handbook%20english%20language%20version(3).pdf

Handbook in Urdu:

/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/files/gboyle%20decision-making%20handbook%20urdu%20version%20oct12.pdf

Handbook in Polish:

/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/files/gboyle%20decision-making%20handbook%20polish%20version.pdf

English version of handbook for South Asian audience:

/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/files/Decision-making%20handbook%20-%20english%20language%20suitable%20for%20South%20Asian%20audience(2).pdf