SHARED study v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Carer and patient-led development of recommendations for people with dementia returning home from hospital: understanding what is important
IRAS ID
137328
Contact name
Carole Mockford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Warwick
Research summary
Up to 70% of acute hospital beds are occupied by older people and it is estimated that around 40% of these have dementia, many without a formal diagnosis. Recent reports have shown that there is no clear pathway for patients with dementia or their carers when they leave hospital. Families can face many difficulties when health and social care services do not work together, or as expected, and staff may not know how to overcome this. Every hospital has a discharge policy involving the single assessment process potentially enabling health and social care services to provide seamless services but several reports have found major gaps in the hospital
discharge process. This study focuses on the experiences of carers and people with dementia from hospital discharge to 12 weeks post discharge particularly what works well, what can be improved and their involvement in decision making around service provision. This understanding will underpin carer and patient-led recommendations developed to ensure a smooth transition for people with dementia returning home from hospital. Putting the carers and the people with dementia at the forefront of the study will focus our findings on what really matters to them. Our study will include the views and experiences of both carers and people with dementia at hospital discharge, then 6 and 12 weeks after discharge, with them taking a lead role in developing recommendations about discharge and support needed after discharge. Ongoing consent will be continually assessed. Health and social care professionals’perspectives and experiences will also be included. Carers are co-applicants on this study, and will be coresearchers,involved in all stages of the research process, including collaborating in publications, and in the dissemination of the findings e.g. to the services involved in hospital discharge planning.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0501
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion