People may be unable to make their own decision about whether to take part in a research study due to impaired mental capacity. Therefore, family and friends may be involved in the decision making on their behalf, which can be challenging.

The DECISION Study is a qualitative interview study to explore family members’ experiences of acting as a research consultee or legal representative for someone who lacks capacity to consent for research; and the research team are looking for people to take part. The study is open to all those in England and Wales who have decided about whether a family member who lacks capacity to consent should or should not take part in a research study in the last 18 months.

Kath Barcroft, the Manager of Hill Top Care Home in Stoke on Trent, is a convert to the benefits of taking part in clinical research.

‘Most people wouldn’t think that we could be doing research in a care home, but we have been doing it now for a couple of years and I would really recommend other care homes to get involved. It has really been a worthwhile experience – we have learnt so much about the needs of our patients and it helps to involve our residents’ families in their care as well as helping us to engage with them’.

Hear from Sandra Prew, ENRICH lead in the West Midlands, as she explores overcoming the challenges of conducting research in Care Homes, such as having a shared vision between care homes and researchers of improving residents’ lives.

Just one hour a week of social interaction helps dementia patients

Alzheimer Europe (AE) has today released two new publications: A comparative report on “Standards for residential care facilities in Europe” and a discussion paper called “Dementia as a disability? Implications for ethics, policy and practice”.

The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) works with partner organisations, including the NHS, local authorities and universities, to conduct applied health research and implement research evidence, to improve health and healthcare across the West.

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-opportunities/1806-enabling-people-to-live-well-with-dementia-through-interventions-in-a-community-setting/7752

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is holding a Research and Innovation Conference in March 2018.

Free for care homes that are part of the ENRICH network, the day is full of talks and workshops including topics on ‘Take a stab at research’ and  ‘Falls prevention in care homes’.

The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has recently published a systematic review article (analysing results of multiple research studies) exploring changes in analgesic drug prescriptions for those in long-term care.

The analysis suggested an increase in scheduled prescription rates for analgesic (painkiller) drugs over time.

The full review can be viewed on the Wiley Online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.15238/full