Family Interventions iN Dementia Mental Health Environments
Study Goal: Understand carers' needs when someone with dementia is in a mental health ward and develop strategies to support carers as partners in care. Research Questions: * What are mental health wards like in terms of staff, patients, and current carer support? * What do carers experience and need during admission, discharge, and beyond? * How do ward routines and staff practices affect carer involvement? * How can co-design turn research into practical strategies for carer support? * Can these strategies be implemented effectively? Method: The investigators will survey mental health wards nationwide, interview carers from three UK wards, observe ward practices, and talk to staff. They will use this information to create and share practical strategies to improve carer support across the UK.
• Ward managers of mental health wards that provides care to PLWD
• Ward managers from NHS wards that provides care to PLWD
• Ward managers from private providers that provides care to PLWD
• Ward managers that work on organic or mixed wards that provides care to PLWD
• Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD currently receiving care on a mental health ward
• Aged 18 years old or above
• Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview
• Willing to take part in 3 interviews over 12 months
• Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD discharged from the ward within the last 3 years
• Aged 18 years old or above
• Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview
• Willing to take part in an interview
• PLWD currently under the care of the mental health ward
• PLWD discharged from the care of a dementia mental health ward within the last 3 years
• Has capacity to give informed consent to taking part in an interview
• Willing to take part in an interview alongside their carer
• PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards
• Carers (family members or friends) of PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards
• Willing to talk about mental health and dementia
• Aged 18 years old or above
• Have capacity to give informed consent
• Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD
• Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc)
• Members of staff of any pay band or grade
• Students on placement in a mental health ward
• Members of staff working on NHS or private wards
• PLWD
• Carer (family or friend; current or bereaved)
• Willing to review outputs related to mental health wards
• Aged 18 years old or above
• Capacity to consent to take part
• Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD
• Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc)
• Members of staff of any pay band or grade
• Students on placement in a mental health ward
• Members of staff working on NHS or private wards