Matilda Project (correct study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the MATILDA intervention to support older adults with learning disability to their improve health, wellbeing and social networks compared to usual care
IRAS ID
279668
Contact name
Laurence Taggart
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
QUB
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with learning disabilities (LD) are ageing, however old age for people with LD starts earlier and has more impact on their physical and mental health. Most older adults with LD feel isolated and cut-off from friends and local communities. A team of Australian researchers developed a social intervention called Transition to Retirement (TTR), they trained 2-3 retired adults without LD who were part of a local community group to act as mentors, to support a person with a LD to take part in the group a few times a week. The project helped older adults with LD develop new social networks and friendships. They became more connected with their local communities, and felt less lonely and isolated.
Our team in N Ireland met with stakeholders and adapted the TTR project, there was less emphasis on retirement and more on supporting older adults with LD to become involved in their local communities. We changed the name to Matilda (Managing Activities Together, to Involve older people with LD in their local community) and we’re now ready to test if this can be delivered and is acceptable in the UK.
Aim: To test whether Matilda can help older people with LD participate in local community groups with the support of mentors without LD, to improve their health, wellbeing and social networks.
Methods: This 30-month study will run in NI and London. 64 older adults with LD will be randomly (by chance) allocated to either the 6- month Matilda intervention or usual care (to provide a control group). Those allocated to the control arm, will receive usual care and 3 recreational activities with their LD peers. The adults with LD in both arms will complete the same questionnaires at baseline, 6 and 12-months later.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
22/NI/0067
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion