Chance to test online support package for friends and family of people living with dementia
Family members or friends supporting someone living with dementia are being invited to take part in a study to bring a new online support programme to the UK.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is working with the University of East Anglia and the University of Exeter to introduce CareCoach, an online support package which focuses on helping caregivers develop knowledge, skills and confidence to manage and support the care they provide someone living with dementia.
The researchers have been working with carers, dementia experts and healthcare workers to co-develop and test the online support package for the UK thanks to £2 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The programme, which originated in the Netherlands, uses virtual face-to-face sessions, a web-based platform with learning modules and support from a coach (healthcare professional or dementia charity worker) to help people adapt to changes to their lives and in their relative or friend. The aim is to help caregivers stay well by keeping a balance between caring and time for themselves, which is crucial for both the caregiver and the person living with dementia.
The research trial is open to anyone who is 18 years or over, living in the UK and currently cares for or supports a person living with dementia. This may be a partner, family member, in-law, close friend or neighbour. The person living with dementia (all subtypes) needs to have been diagnosed within the last five years and not live in a care home.
Anyone who would like to take part will need access to a device with a camera and microphone which connects to the internet (e.g., laptop, tablet, smartphone).
Individuals will initially answer some questions to check whether the study is suitable for them before the study team sends more information. The individual will complete a questionnaire then be allocated to one of two groups:
- One group will receive CareCoach for eight weeks, guided by a remote coach who is a healthcare professional or dementia charity worker.
- The other group will continue to access support that is normally available to them. They will not have access to CareCoach during their study participation but at the end of the study they will be offered access to the CareCoach online materials.
Both groups will complete follow-up questionnaires 10 weeks and six months later. The whole study takes six months and can all be completed at home (no travel necessary) at a time convenient for them.
NSFT Chief Nurse Anthony Deery said it was great that focus was being directed at carers of people with dementia as it could be a challenge as the illness progressed.
We want people to feel they are supported as carers and to have someone who can help them through what can be a very difficult and emotional time is really good news. We hope this trial is a huge success, he said.
Anyone interested in taking part can email researchinfo@nsft.nhs.uk or call 01603 421397 for more information. Or you can submit your interest in taking part and receiving more information here: CareCoachstudyCarer
Professor Jane Cross (University of East Anglia) and Professor Chris Fox (NSFT and University of Exeter) are the study leads. The study is being co-ordinated by the Norwich Clinical Trials Unit at the University of East Anglia.
CareCoach images.zip [zip] 272KB