OPTIMISED DEMCARE Feasibility
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cluster randomised feasibility trial and process evaluation of the OPTIMISED DEMCARE training intervention versus usual care to improve personal care assistance and reduce refusals of care for people with dementia living in care homes 2026-2028.
IRAS ID
367072
Contact name
Tamara Backhouse
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Over half of the people living with dementia in the UK are in the advanced stages. People living with advanced dementia need help with personal care activities. These include washing, dressing and going to the toilet. Sometimes personal care interactions can be distressing for both the person with dementia and their carers. Refusals of care are common in care-home settings. Guidance calls for more care home staff training for dementia care.
We co-produced a care home staff training intervention to improve personal care assistance for people with dementia in care homes called OPTIMISED DEMCARE. This study will examine if we can test the training in a trial situation.
Aim: to determine the feasibility of a trial of the intervention OPTIMISED DEMCARE versus usual care in care homes with a cluster randomised feasibility trial with embedded process and health economic evaluation.
Eight care homes will be recruited in two regions, East of England and East Midlands; six care homes will receive the training and two will keep providing usual care. Data collection will be at three timepoints: baseline, directly after training delivery, and 6-months after care homes have been randomised to training or usual care. We will examine:
• if we can recruit the required amount of care home residents and staff,
• if participants stay in the study,
• if the data we want to collect can be collected,
• if the trial processes are feasible,
• if the OPTIMISED DEMCARE intervention is feasible to deliver.
Candidate outcomes for a future trial will be considered. The process evaluation will comprise of observations of training and personal care interactions, interviews with care home staff, and feedback questionnaires. Health economic evaluation will assess the feasibility of collecting cost data.
Results will be disseminated to academic and practice audiences.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
26/IEC08/0019
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion