Family interventions in dementia mental health environments (FIND ME): a mixed-methods protocol

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Mental Health Services Research
• Patient and Carer Engagement

Background:

• Admission to mental health wards is distressing for people with dementia and their carers.
• Carers often feel excluded from decision-making and support during admissions.
• Limited understanding exists on how wards engage carers and strategies to enhance involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore carer and patient experiences during and after mental health ward admissions.
• To co-produce evidence-based strategies for improved carer support and involvement.
• To address the gap in understanding ward engagement with carers of people with dementia.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed-methods design including national online survey, narrative interviews with carers, and ethnographic fieldwork.
• Dyadic interviews with people with dementia and carers.
• Co-design workshops with carers, people with dementia, and staff, followed by a feasibility study of co-designed strategies.

Main Results:

• (Study ongoing - results pending)
• (Study ongoing - results pending)
• (Study ongoing - results pending)

Conclusions:

• (Study ongoing - conclusions pending)
• (Study ongoing - conclusions pending)
• (Study ongoing - conclusions pending)