research

Evaluation frameworks and tools are being developed based on findings from research and consultation suitable for older people with and without dementia.

End of life care is rarely available for people with dementia. To fill this gap, Housing 21 Dementia Voice has created a new role - the End of Life Dementia Nurse.

Based in the community and helping people with dementia to die at home with dignity, the end of life care nurse will:

• affirm life and regard dying as a normal process
• provide palliative nurse input to manage health issues such as pain, incontinence, malnutrition and respiratory tract infections
• provide specialist expert advice
• attend to the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
• coordinate a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and into their own bereavement
• transfer knowledge and skills to formal and family carers
• work with local service providers.

Housing 21 Dementia Voice has received support from the King's Fund to develop and evaluate this service in London.

The Dementia Voice Nurse

Evaluation of the Dementia Voice Nurse pilot project

We have secured funding from the NESTA Mental Health Innovation Challenge to run a joint project with Innovations in Dementia to pilot the use of computers in day centres for people with dementia.

One aim of the project was to develop accessible training materials for use with people with dementia based on the learning from the project.

The project ended in December 2008 and has shown:

• people with dementia can engage in computer work at many different levels
• the most important aspect of encouraging computer use is the 'human interface' -  the skills used by care staff.

Read the full report for more information.

Commissioned by the Housing and Dementia Research Consortium and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, key aims of this literature review were to identify recent published and grey literature relating to people with dementia living in extra care housing with a focus on evidence relating to the following elements:

• Design and use of the built environment
• Facilities, furnishings and equipment
• Care, support and therapeutic services
• Organisation and management
• Outcomes in relation to health, wellbeing, policy and cost.

The purpose of the review was to take stock of what research evidence exists in order to:

• inform policy and practice through summarising what has been shown to be effective or ineffective
• highlight areas where there are notable gaps in the knowledge base and further research is needed.

Extra Care Housing and People with Dementia: A Scoping Review of the Literature 1998 - 2008 

Summary of Findings from a Scoping Review of the Literature 1998-2008

In collaboration with the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) and Bristol Intermediate Care Service this evaluation aims to measure the impact of autonomous smart home equipment in a pilot Intermediate Care flat at Hillside Court in Bristol and to follow-up clients who return to their own homes. 

Read more about our Smart Flat

Funded by a Department of Health Section 64 grant, this partnership project with the University of the West of England was an action research project which considered methodologies and issues involved in establishing reference groups of people with dementia for the purposes of informing research and service provision.

Memory Loss Report 2007

This was a multi-agency project which aimed to develop technology and design solutions to help enable people with dementia to live independently, empower them and improve their quality of life wherever they live. Housing 21 Dementia Voice worked in collaboration with the Universities of Bath, Sheffield and Liverpool.

Funded by a Department of Health Section 64 grant (April 2003 - March 2006) this project produced a service development checklist for planners, commissioners and providers of rehabilitation services for people with dementia and their carers. This was developed through a comprehensive consultation process.

The checklist and other information is available from the Change Agent Team website.

Housing 21 Dementia Voice were partners in this three year longitudinal study exploring the contribution of extra care housing to the care and support of older people with dementia. The project was funded by the Housing Corporation and Housing 21. The April 2006 report:

• evaluates the contribution that extra care housing makes to the long term care and support of people with dementia
• makes recommendations for good practice for policy makers and housing, care and support commissioners and providers
• communicates the views of older people with dementia and their friends and relatives about extra care housing.

Download a copy of the report

The I'DGO project identified ways of ensuring the outdoor environment is designed inclusively, to improve the quality of life for older people. In focussing on the changing needs of older people, the project addressed issues that are relevant to disabled people regardless of age. Housing 21 Dementia Voice was part of the I'DGO Consortium. More information is available at http://www.idgo.ac.uk.

Barnwood Trust, June 2009

Sutton Dementia Forum (Alzheimer's Society), May 2009. Download a copy of the presentation.

The King's Fund, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the National Council for Palliative Care,October 2008. Download a copy of the presentation.

Improving Live of People with Dementia (Housing Federation Conference), November 2008. Download a copy of the presentation.

UK Dementia Congress, October 2008. Download a copy of the presentation.

Housing Care and Support Conference (National Housing Federation), July 2008. Download a copy of the presentation.

RIPFA Extra Care Housing Seminar, June 2008. Download a copy of the presentation.