The SENSE-Cog Residential aged care facility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) Survey of the detection and management of hearing and vision impairments in people with dementia in residential aged care facilities
IRAS ID
254850
Contact name
Iracema Leroi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Approximately seven in ten people over the age of 65 experience either sight or hearing loss and over two-thirds suffer depression and other mental illnesses, including dementia. They are all within the top ten highest burden of EU diseases in terms of reduced quality of life. When dementia and hearing and/or vision impairment co-occur (in up to 70% of PwD), the negative impact, may be even greater.
Older adults experiencing comorbid cognitive and sensory impairment experience increased disorientation, and may have difficulty locating themselves using visual or auditory clues. This may contribute to greater levels of distress leading to agitation and aggression, as well as an increased prevalence of hallucinations, delusions and depression. Those affected may become more isolated and participate less in social activities and hobbies.
The Sense-Cog programme has developed an intervention aimed at hearing and vision support to improve dementia outcomes. This intervention, currently developed only for PwD living at home, is now being trialled in the SENSE-Cog RCT in five EU sites. However, an intervention such as this, tailored specifically to the needs of PwD living in residential aged care facilities, has yet to be developed. To aid in the development of such and intervention, this study aims to explore the diagnosis and management of hearing and vision impairment in people with dementia (PwD) living in residential aged care facilities, through a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) Survey of care facility managers, care staff and family members of residents. The UK survey data will be collected over 6 months and Care homes will be recruited though the national NIHR ENRICH care homes network and the CQC list of UK care homes. Data will be combined with data collected in other countries where the survey is taking place and analysed at the University of Manchester.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2017
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion