Project type: Erasmus+

Code: 101137270

Beginning: 01.01.2024

End: 31.08.2028

Collaborating organisations:

Fakulteta za socialno delo, Univerza v Ljubljani; Lancaster University; Charles University; Masaryk University; University of Turin; Radboud Netherlands; McMaster University; Queens University Belfast; Jagiellonian University; Universidade Catolica Portugesa; CrowdHelix; European Association of Pallative Care

Coordinator: University College Cork

Leader: izr. prof. Jana Mali (za FSD)

Associates:

dr. med. Mateja Lopuh

Keywords:

nursing, clinical research, health services, health care research, quality of health care wellbeing, palliative care, advanced dementia, family-caregivers, care homes, social inclusion, quality of life, comfort, RTC, symptom management

Summary:

Clinical Study In-Touch aims to improve comfort, quality of life and social engagement of people with advanced dementia living in care homes, enhance a proactive dementia palliative care approach among staff and foster family-staff partnerships in shared decision-making on in-the moment caring and future care planning. In-Touch will deliver a pan-European cluster randomised controlled trial in 56 care homes across 7 countries to determine its effect on comfort, social engagement and quality of life. The hypothesis is that In-Touch will enhance care outcomes and increase staff capabilities and improve communication between staff and family. This intervention could herald a major change in the way that care for people with advanced dementia, in the palliative phase of their illness, is provided across Europe. People with advanced dementia should have better quality of life as they approach death, improved engagement and reduced social isolation. Care staff will have an ethically sound and evidence-based intervention that is cost-effective to implement, with family members more involved in, and knowledgeable about, comfort care and future care plans.