Access, barriers, and facilitators of healthcare services for people with dementia
Overview
1. About the study
The number of people living with dementia in the UK is growing rapidly, creating significant challenges for the healthcare system, communities, and individuals. Unfortunately, many studies have highlighted issues such as poor coordination and fragmented care within the healthcare system for people with dementia. Understanding the experiences of people with dementia and how the healthcare system supports them is essential for building a more inclusive system that meets the needs of everyone, particularly in culturally diverse communities. Therefore, this study aims to explore the experiences of people with dementia with healthcare services, identify challenges and gaps in dementia care, and examine the factors that shape their access to and preferences for care services.
This study is part of a PhD project investigating the access, facilitators, and barriers to dementia care services for people with dementia.
We are inviting you to participate because you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or you are caring for someone with a diagnosis of dementia. We would like to interview you to understand your experiences with healthcare services as someone living with dementia or caring for someone with dementia. We aim to learn about the challenges you face, identify gaps in dementia care, and explore the factors that influence your access to and preferences for care services.
Are you interested in taking part in this study?
Planned end date
30 Sep 2025 00:00Inclusion Criteria
For Service Users (People with Dementia):
Age: Must be 18 years or older.
Diagnosis: Must have a diagnosis of dementia (any subtype, e.g., Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia).
Healthcare Access: Must currently be accessing or have previously accessed healthcare services.
Location: Must reside in the Greater London area.
Time Since Diagnosis: Individuals at various stages of dementia, from recent diagnosis to later stages, are eligible.
Informed Consent: Must have the capacity to provide informed consent.
For Carers/Family Members:
Age: Must be 18 years or older.
Role: Must be a primary or regular caregiver providing ongoing care and support to a person with dementia. This includes both formal and informal caregivers, such as family members or paid carers.
Relation to Service User: The carer must be currently supporting or have previously supported a person with dementia who has accessed healthcare services.
Location: Must reside in the Greater London area.
Exclusion Criteria
To maintain focus on the experiences of people with dementia and their carers in healthcare settings, the following participants will be excluded:
For Service Users (People with Dementia):
Non-Dementia Related Conditions: Individuals with cognitive impairment due to conditions unrelated to dementia (e.g., traumatic brain injury, severe intellectual disabilities).
Acute Health Issues: Individuals currently experiencing a major acute health crisis (e.g., severe infections, recent hospitalizations) that would prevent participation in interviews.
Inability to Provide Consent: Individuals who, even with assistance, are unable to provide informed consent.
Non-Residents: Individuals who do not reside within the Greater London area due to logistical limitations.
For Carers/Family Members:
Lack of Direct Caregiving Experience: Individuals who do not have direct caregiving responsibilities for a person with dementia.
Non-Residents: Individuals who do not reside within the Greater London area.