Researchers from the University of Manchester are looking to better understand dementia and hearing loss. They would like to speak to people with dementia and informal or paid carers via Zoom or phone call. This would take around 1 hour and participants would receive a £10 shopping voucher as a thank you for their time. The aim of the study is to find out about the benefits and facilitators to hearing tests for people with dementia, i,e, what works well/what is difficult. Researchers would use the results to recommend changes for hearing tests and audiology services for people with dementia. Results can also be shared with participants in an easy to access virtual booklet which can be shared amongst staff for learning and development.

To find out more, please contact Hannah Cross (hannah.cross-2@manchester.ac.uk) or Rebecca Millman (rebecca.millman@manchester.ac.uk).

Lucia Halamova from the University of Aberdeen is looking to speak to staff, residents and family/friends of residents about decision making around moving into care homes. The researcher would look to speak with those interested, either in person or on the phone/online. This would last around 30-45 minutes. The aim of the project is to eventually create a document such as a conversation guide or decision aid to help start early conversations and pre-emptive decision making around moving into care homes and help improve experiences of this. Everyone who takes part will be given £10 cash/voucher as a token of thanks for their time.

If you’re interested to find out more, please contact Lucy Halamova at l.halamova.23@abdn.ac.uk.

Fiona Clark from the University of Dundee is looking for care homes in the tayside area to participate in this study looking at how ‘rights’ are understood by those who live and work in residential care for older people in Scotland. The study would involve Fiona coming into the care home to observe and assist in practical tasks such as serving teas and coffees, chatting to residents and staff and perhaps leading an activity with a small group of residents, if they and staff would welcome this. Fiona would then use information gathered from this, to do some short semi-structured interviews with residents, staff and the care home manager and owner where appropriate. The best way to facilitate the above would be discussed with the care home manager and staff. The pattern of contact and the researcher's role would be negotiated with each of the care home managers individually to ensure the least disruption for residents and staff, but she would aim to be present on different days and during different times of the day. 

If you are interested in taking part, or would like more information, please email f.z.clark@dundee.ac.uk.

People living in care homes are especially prone to infections and are more likely to become seriously ill when become infected. Many such infections can be prevented by safe and effective vaccines. However, vaccines are usually only tested in younger and healthier people, and we can’t be sure that they are just as safe, or work just as well, for people in care homes.

There are many reasons why vaccines are harder to test in people in care homes. For example, some people might have conditions like dementia which might make it difficult for them to give permission for research studies, and it might take longer for frail older people to provide answer to questions. Another example is that pharmaceutical companies may be reluctant to test their vaccine in people with multiple medical conditions as any flare-ups of the condition could be confused with side effects.

However, with the right guidance, all these problems could be overcome. Professor Roy Soiza from the University of Aberdeen and Professor Susan Shenkin from the University Edinburgh will be working with a team of expert researchers in the care home setting, and researchers with experience of running vaccine trials in hospitals to come together with people who work in care homes to discuss what all the barriers are, and how to overcome them. They will produce an expert guidance document that can be used by researchers to conduct these trials. The team will also volunteer to undertake vaccine trials during the project and attempt to recruit people from care homes in order to test out and refine the guidance further. 

This study is not currently looking for any participants but we will keep the website up to date with any further developments.