Taking the research journey together
Enid and Barry
An Oxfordshire couple who have been married for 69 years are taking part in NHS research into dementia after one of them was diagnosed with the condition.
Barry and Enid Reeves, both 91, are taking part in a study at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to help researchers understand the experiences of people with dementia.
Barry and Enid first met aged 15 in 1942 in their hometown of Birmingham and married aged 22 in 1950. They have three children, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Enid was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type of dementia – at Abingdon Community Hospital in 2016, aged 88.
They're now taking part in the IDEAL-2 study, where researchers visit people with dementia and their carers over a two year period to interview them about what helps them with the condition and what stops them from living well. It is hoped that this will help improve the quality of NHS dementia care.