Care Homes and Nottingham University Unite to Share Dementia Care Best Practice
Staff from an East Midlands care group and the University of Nottingham recently attended an international Alzheimer’s conference – taking learnings to apply to their pioneering dementia research studies.
Rachel Squire, the manager of Milford Care’s The Meadows care home, recently joined delegates at the 35th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Bologna, Italy, alongside Dr. Rachael Carroll, Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. The pair have been working closely together on three major dementia studies – the DACHA Study, DACHA-DASH study and the LiLAC Study – across the past three years at both The Meadows and Buddleia House care home, in Hucknall.
The DACHA study involved Dr. Carroll working with Buddleia House to trial a minimum data set, a standard, agreed-upon list of information collected about residents. This was then combined with information from other care records to help different groups better understand and improve care for older adults living in care homes.
Explaining the DACHA-DASH project, Dr. Carroll, said: “We then shifted from looking at general information about all residents in a care home to focusing on the individual themselves. The main goal was to help staff, residents and their families focus on what truly matters to each individual person. Instead of just tracking health issues, staff use the collected information to guide meaningful conversations and tailor care.”
By creating and sharing examples with other care homes, the project aims to improve care delivery across the country. This includes showing how to better share information and use tools that measure a resident’s quality of life.
Rachel Squire explains: “The data we collect isn’t just about likes and dislikes; it’s about understanding the deeper needs of our residents, including their spiritual, emotional and relationship-building requirements.”
Another groundbreaking initiative, the LiLAC Study, is currently being conducted at The Meadows, focusing on managing challenging behaviours in people with dementia. This study aims to advance understanding of dementia care and help shape new practices that could improve quality of life across the sector – both in the UK and overseas.
Talking on attending the conference, Rachel said: “It was incredibly informative. We took away best practices but were also being inspired by the people living with dementia who are showing the world how to lead with dignity and resilience.”
Dr. Carroll’s work also explores themes of intimacy, identity and spiritual needs in dementia care – highlighting the importance of viewing residents not just as individuals with health needs but as people with rich life histories and personal stories.
The Meadows is home to 65 residents, 60 of whom live with dementia. A key philosophy of the home is to champion the voices of residents, ensuring they are involved in all aspects of life within the home and wider community. “It’s essential to find creative ways to involve residents and families in feedback and decision-making,” Rachel says. “The goal is always to support the residents in being a part of their community and maintaining their sense of identity and agency.”
