Intergenerational communication in dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Intergenerational Communication: how interaction happens between people living with dementia and children - a qualitative study
IRAS ID
320720
Contact name
Suzanne Beeke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2023/03/44 health research, UCL Data Protection Registration Reference
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 7 months, 4 days
Research summary
The wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) is affected by the illness but also by the environments in which they live and socialise. Social interaction and meaningful activity give us all a sense of well-being and quality of life, and this is the same for PLWD. A new model of dementia care, intergenerational (IG) care, brings together young children and PLWD to talk and engage in activities. This study focuses on the potential benefits of intergenerational care for communication and social interaction, using expertise from the science of communication disorder, in particular, Conversation Analysis (CA).
To meet the aims of my study I will video record and analyse interactions which occur between children and PLWD. I will use CA (via video recorded observations) and ethnographic observations (via field jot notes) of IG activities in care homes. I will analyse sequences of interactions and interactional consequences of the verbal and non-verbal activity that occur. As non-verbal communication is seen as a strength in PLWD, there will be particular emphasis placed on multi-modal, non-verbal aspects of interactions.
CA findings will be reviewed to determine how children’s communication with PLWD relates to the communication strategies commonly recommended and used by adults.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0569
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion