Uni receives £500,000 for dementia care studies
AWELSH university has been awarded more than £500,000 by the Welsh Government to look at how best to support people with dementia and their carers.
Across Wales there are an estimated 45,000 people living with dementia and the cost of the illness has been estimated at £1.4bn per year.
Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences will work with families to find out what works best and what bars them from accessing services.
Two fellowships, funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales, will look at issues such as support services – which can be fragmented and difficult for people to access across health and social care sectors – as well as poor transport links and the risk of carers feeling isolated and unsupported, particularly in rural areas.
Dr Catherine MacLeod, of the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales (DSDC), has been awarded a social care fellowship to explore the health and care service needs of people living with dementia or cognitive impairment, and their carers.
Her work will look at how people currently use and access services, what support or information they may be missing, and their experiences of social exclusion.
She said: “We want to ensure that people living with dementia and their families receive the right help and the right support at the right time. I hope my research will make a difference to the support people receive.”
Dr Carys Jones, of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) has been awarded a social care fellowship to explore the social value of third-sector services for family carers of people living with dementia – such as help from non-profit-making charities, voluntary and community groups.
It is hoped findings from her work, examining value for money provided by third-sector schemes, will lead to improved services.
Dr Jones said: “Family carers provide vital support to people living with dementia, yet their needs are often overlooked. This important research will look at services that support families through providing emotional support, practical advice about caring, and advice on maintaining the health and wellbeing of carers.”
Both fellowships will look at what works best for whom in the provision of services. They will highlight examples of best practice, and examine factors that make it easier for people to use and access services.
Bangor University said in a statement: “People living with dementia and their families will be at the centre of this work, actively shaping the development of the research, and working with researchers to ensure that the voices of people living with dementia and their carers are heard.”