Caring Neighbourhood Volunteer Service (pilot)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does receiving the Caring Neighbourhood Volunteer Service improve anxiety, depression, quality of life, or social isolation in cared for people and their informal carers?
IRAS ID
279782
Contact name
Audrey Roulston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
This project will address the following: Does receiving the Caring Neighbourhood Volunteer Service improve anxiety, depression, quality of life and social isolation in cared for people and their informal carers?
Caring Neighbourhood Service (pilot) builds on the Good Neighbour project which offers a daily telephone call to older people living alone in the Southern Trust. Managers of the Confederation of Community Groups have a team of volunteers who deliver these calls and other social support, and have availability to offer neighbourhood support to informal carers and cared for persons.
The Confederation of Community Groups recognised a gap in resources available within the Southern Trust locality to alleviate social isolation, or to support the emotional or practical needs of informal carers or cared for persons, particularly those aged 55+. Support may include respite/sitting service to allow carers to have a break, or advice and information about local support services.
The aim of this research project will be to measure changes in social isolation, quality of life, depression and anxiety of cared for people (n=12) and their informal carers (n=12) who are referred to and receive support from neighbourhood volunteers over a 16 week period. Based on referral criteria for the neighbourhood volunteer service, consenting participants will be asked to complete validated measures: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, EQ-5D (Quality of Life) and Lubben Social Network Scale. Data collection will occur prior to receiving the service and at the end of service provision (minimum 8 weeks, maximum 16 weeks), and is estimated to take 20 minutes. Practical assistance will be provided if required.
This feasibility/pilot service is funded by the Health and Social Care Board. An independent evaluation of the experiences of informal carers, cared for people and the volunteers who deliver the Caring Neighbourhood service will be conducted by the research team.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0166
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion