Status: Active
Purpose: The In-Touch study will adapt, implement, and evaluate a non-pharmacological, palliative care intervention for people with advanced dementia who live in long-term care (LTC) homes, their family/friend care partners, and staff, using a cluster randomized controlled trial design in 56 care homes in 7 European countries. Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen is leading the Care Partner Involvement and Engagement work of the In-Touch trial, including an international Care Partner Advisory Group (CPAG). CPAG members include past or present care partners (i.e., family or friend caregivers) of persons with advanced dementia living in a LTC home, from partnering countries (Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Canada). Members of the CPAG use their lived experience and expertise to review and provide input, advice and feedback on the In-Touch intervention and support study activities. The ongoing involvement of CPAG members will help to ensure that the In-Touch intervention and dissemination activities are meaningful to people with advanced dementia and their care partners.
Focus groups and individual interviews with diverse Canadian care partner advisors (e.g., those who identify as ethnically diverse or LGBTQ+) will also support the co-creation of a virtual toolkit (i.e., a series of virtual learning modules and information resources/tools). The toolkit will engage care partners and members of the public as advisors in research, and will provide resources, information, and tips for working with diverse care partners and families of people with dementia in Canada.
Purpose: The In-Touch study will adapt, implement, and evaluate a non-pharmacological, palliative care intervention for people with advanced dementia who live in long-term care (LTC) homes, their family/friend care partners, and staff, using a cluster randomized controlled trial design in 56 care homes in 7 European countries. Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen is leading the Care Partner Involvement and Engagement work of the In-Touch trial, including an international Care Partner Advisory Group (CPAG). CPAG members include past or present care partners (i.e., family or friend caregivers) of persons with advanced dementia living in a LTC home, from partnering countries (Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Canada). Members of the CPAG use their lived experience and expertise to review and provide input, advice and feedback on the In-Touch intervention and support study activities. The ongoing involvement of CPAG members will help to ensure that the In-Touch intervention and dissemination activities are meaningful to people with advanced dementia and their care partners.
Focus groups and individual interviews with diverse Canadian care partner advisors (e.g., those who identify as ethnically diverse or LGBTQ+) will also support the co-creation of a virtual toolkit (i.e., a series of virtual learning modules and information resources/tools). The toolkit will engage care partners and members of the public as advisors in research, and will provide resources, information, and tips for working with diverse care partners and families of people with dementia in Canada.
Funded by the European Union (2024-2029) and SSHRC New Frontiers in Research Fund – Global (2024-2025)