TY - JOUR

T1 - Supporting social connection for people living with dementia: lessons from the findings of the TRIO study

AU - Prendergast, Louise

AU - Toms, Gill

AU - Seddon, Diane

AU - Jones, Carys

AU - Anthony, Bethany

AU - Edwards, Rhiannon Tudor

PY - 2024/2/8

Y1 - 2024/2/8

N2 - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share the learning concerning how services and the paid carers working in them can support people living with dementia (PLWD) and their unpaid carers to overcome social isolation. This learning comes from the key findings from a Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation of a Shared Lives (SL) Day support service, known as TRIO.Design/methodology/approachSROI is a form of cost-benefit analysis that captures and monetises stakeholder outcomes. The SROI evaluation included a rapid evidence review, an interview study and a questionnaire study. The learning shared is drawn from the interview and questionnaire data that explored the reported outcomes relating to social connection, which included data related to participating in meaningful activities, confidence and independence.FindingsPLWD who accessed the SL Day support service experienced better social connection, a sense of control over their activities (including their social activities) and community presence. A key foundation of these outcomes was the meaningful relationship that developed between the PLWD, their unpaid carer and the paid carer.Research limitations/implicationsThis evaluation was a pilot study with a small, albeit representative sample size.Practical implicationsThe learning suggests feasible and effective ways for paid carers to support the social connection of PLWD and their unpaid carers with their wider community.Originality/valueThere has been little exploration of how community-based short breaks (like SL Day support) can enhance social connection. The authors drew on a social relational model lens to illustrate how this service type had supported successful outcomes of community and social inclusion for PLWD.

AB - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share the learning concerning how services and the paid carers working in them can support people living with dementia (PLWD) and their unpaid carers to overcome social isolation. This learning comes from the key findings from a Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation of a Shared Lives (SL) Day support service, known as TRIO.Design/methodology/approachSROI is a form of cost-benefit analysis that captures and monetises stakeholder outcomes. The SROI evaluation included a rapid evidence review, an interview study and a questionnaire study. The learning shared is drawn from the interview and questionnaire data that explored the reported outcomes relating to social connection, which included data related to participating in meaningful activities, confidence and independence.FindingsPLWD who accessed the SL Day support service experienced better social connection, a sense of control over their activities (including their social activities) and community presence. A key foundation of these outcomes was the meaningful relationship that developed between the PLWD, their unpaid carer and the paid carer.Research limitations/implicationsThis evaluation was a pilot study with a small, albeit representative sample size.Practical implicationsThe learning suggests feasible and effective ways for paid carers to support the social connection of PLWD and their unpaid carers with their wider community.Originality/valueThere has been little exploration of how community-based short breaks (like SL Day support) can enhance social connection. The authors drew on a social relational model lens to illustrate how this service type had supported successful outcomes of community and social inclusion for PLWD.

KW - Dementia

KW - respite

KW - short-break

KW - Integration

KW - Person-centred

KW - shared lives

KW - SROI

U2 - 10.1108/WWOP-10-2022-0050

DO - 10.1108/WWOP-10-2022-0050

M3 - Article

VL - 28

SP - 9

EP - 19

JO - Working with Older People

JF - Working with Older People

SN - 1366-3666

IS - 1

ER -