People with dementia living alone V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Support for people with dementia who live alone
IRAS ID
331724
Contact name
Sarah Polack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
It is estimated that a third of people with dementia live on their own. They do so for different reasons and in different circumstances. Appropriate care, support and social connection, for people with dementia, is important for their well-being and helping them to live in the community for as long as possible. However, accessing this support may be particularly challenging for people who live on their own. People with dementia who live alone are also at greater risk of isolation and loneliness. Even though many people with dementia live alone, they are not well represented in dementia research or policy. Dementia services are often tailored around dementia-carer dyads and most research focusses on people living with carers and often only from carer perspective.
This research aims to explore access to post-diagnostic support for solo dwelling people with dementia, from the perspectives of people with dementia, non-resident relatives/friends and service providers in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This is a qualitative study. We will interview people with dementia living alone in the community and relatives/friends of people with dementia who live alone to find out about their experiences and needs, social networks, and barriers and facilitators to accessing support. We will also interview people involved in dementia service provision to understand how the needs of people living alone are being considered, the challenges and what works well.
The study findings can help inform how policy makers, practitioners and the voluntary sector can identify, consider the needs, and strengthen access to support for with dementia people living alone. We also hope to understand about how people living alone can be more meaningfully included in research.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0098
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion