South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s Research and Development team are currently running intervention trial studies regarding Carers of Old Age Populations. The study is called CareCoach.
Study Summary
CareCoach Study (Testing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an online support package for family carers of people living with dementia)
Principal Investigator: Dr Robert Lawrence (Consultant)
The aim of this study is to test the effects of using an online support package for carers called CareCoach. It will test whether CareCoach has an effect on a carer’s sense of being able to care well, their mood and quality of life. This must be tested before it can be made available to people across the UK. This is a large, randomised, controlled trial aims to recruit family carers. Carers will be randomly allocated to either the CareCoach intervention group or the ‘control’ group where they will continue to receive usual care.
Who is it for?
- Carers who are currently providing care/support (e.g., informally, unpaid*) for a person living with dementia (may be a partner, family member, in-law, close friend or neighbour)
- The person living with dementia (all subtypes) must have been diagnosed within the last 5 years
- The carer must be 18 years old or over
- The carer must be living in the UK
- The carer must have access to a device with a camera and microphone that can connects to the internet (e.g., laptop, tablet, smartphone)
- The carer should be seeking to learn new skills and knowledge to cope well while caring for a person living with dementia
- The carer must be able to engage in and understand the programme delivered in English (with the help of family interpreter if required)
What is involved
The intervention (CareCoach) combines learning modules (via an online platform) with support from a ‘coach’ (eg., health/social care worker) remotely. Carers in the intervention group will use CareCoach for 8-weeks with support from a ‘coach’. All carers in the study will be asked to complete a questionnaire either online or via post at the beginning of the trial (before being allocated into a group), and 10-weeks and 6-months after allocation.
How to participate
To take part, contact:
Jhian.cadimas@swlstg.nhs.uk or call 07519668148
Study flyer
