Burt, Linda, Handley, Melanie, West, Juniper, Alam, Jarin, Poland, Fiona, Moniz-Cook, Esme, Wolverson, Emma, Wong, Geff, Hackman, Corinna, Teague, Bonnie, Literland, Rachel and Fox, Chris (2026) Role of peer-tutors with dementia in Recovery College dementia courses: an ethnographic account. The Gerontologist. (In Press)

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Abstract

Background and objectives
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia impacts life plans and can lead to feelings of hopelessness and social disengagement. Post-diagnostic support can help people adjust to and assimilate a changing identity. Recovery Colleges in the UK offer a specific form of post-diagnostic peer-led support. This paper aims to provide a rich account of ‘stand out’ moments where the key tenets of recovery-focused post-diagnostic support were enacted.
Research design and methods
Using ethnographic observations and interview data from the anonymized Study, a realist evaluation of Recovery College dementia courses, we examined data to specify activities of peer-tutors and the mechanisms which shaped outcomes for people with dementia.
Results
Five Recovery College dementia courses were observed across four NHS mental health services in England. Post-course interviews were undertaken with 13 tutors (3 peer-tutors with dementia) and 32 attendees (8 people with dementia). We found that through co-facilitation of recovery-focused content by peer-tutors who have well developed facilitation skills, attendees appeared to mediate self-stigma, manage emotional uncertainty and make meaningful social connections in ways which engendered hope for their future.
Discussion and implications
Identifying the activity between peer-tutors with dementia and course attendees foregrounds key strengths and limitations of this distinctive form of post-diagnostic support. Future work should evaluate longer term outcomes for people with dementia attending recovery courses before potentially expanding this form of post-diagnostic support.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	dementia, identity, co-production, peer support, safe uncertainty, stigma, hope, realist evaluation.
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2026
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/14514

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