Effective Home Support Dementia Care: DESCANT v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effective Home Support in Dementia Care: Project 2.1 Dementia Early Stage Cognitive Aids New Trial
IRAS ID
196438
Contact name
David Challis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12591717
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
With population ageing dementia represents a significant public health and care challenge. About 60% of people with dementia live in their own homes but finding the best ways of helping them to live well at home and supporting their carers is a challenge. Although more innovative home support services, from the NHS, social care and voluntary organisations, exist in some localities, they are often underdeveloped. This project is part of a wider programme of research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), investigating the impact of different forms and sources of home support on the health and well-being of people with dementia and their carers. The project is a randomised trial lasting 33 months, which aims to evaluate whether memory aids, delivered by Dementia Support Practitioners (DSPs), are effective and cost-effective. \n\nThe study will collect information on the supports people with dementia receive at home from health and social care providers, their health and well-being and that of their carer as well as relevant socio-demographic information. The information will be collected through interviews with people with early stage dementia and their carers, undertaken at three time points to measure change. Potential participants will be identified and invited to take part in this study through their attendance at memory clinics in NHS Trusts. \n\nThe study’s potential benefits are in demonstrating, to those purchasing care, the public and researchers, whether the provision of simple memory aids, along with training in their use, could result in better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers. Furthermore, the study will provide evidence of whether the approach may be rolled out in a cost-effective, realistic and scaleable way to voluntary organisations and/or NHS Trusts in the future.\n
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0389
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion