Laura Stoops

Background

About Laura Stoops

I am currently the Impact and Evaluation Manager at Age NI, a charity that supports older people in Northern Ireland. Age NI is the leading charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Age NI believes that people should be supported to love later life, to know and understand their rights, to remain as independent as possible and connected to their communities. Age NI provides care, wellbeing and advice services to thousands of older people, their families, and carers across Northern Ireland. My professional interests are developing an impact culture within the voluntary sector, using technology-based solutions to support older people or those with a disability and improving the mental wellbeing of those who seek this, particularly older people. I am currently undertaking a degree in Integrative Counselling Practice with a view to using these newfound skills to better support the mental wellbeing of older people. I have a keen interest in using research skills to support the voluntary sector and to share this knowledge widely. This is demonstrated through my employment endeavours which include supporting Parkinson’s UK (as a data analyst) with their ‘Get it on time’ campaign which focussed on the importance of patients with Parkinson’s Disease receiving their medication on time when in hospital for issues unrelated to the disease. Previously, I worked for Mencap NI, a charity that supports people with a learning disability. I was for 5 years in a role which focussed on impact and evaluation. I hold a PhD (2011) in Computer-Based Assessment and Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. I combined my computer science knowledge and research skills to develop two computer-based software tools with the capability to assess / monitor and diagnose Parkinson’s Disease in a more objective manner than the process in use at the time. The prototype software tools aimed to reduce hospital / GP visits for people with Parkinson’s Disease by offering the opportunity for assessment / monitoring to take place in the comfort of their own homes.