STARs- STorytelling for older Adults in Residential settings
Research type
Research Study
Full title
STARS- STorytelling for older Adults in Residential settings
IRAS ID
251905
Contact name
Lucy Dipper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
School of Health Sciences, City University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
STARs- STorytelling for Adults in Residential Setting is a project focusing on promoting communication in older adults who live in care homes, using personal storytelling. The project has three overarching aims: 1) developing the STARs programme in collaboration with key stakeholders; 2) exploring its feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy; and 3) examining the programme’s wider impact on the communication environment, staff awareness of the importance for wellbeing of regular communication activities, and home activities.
For aim 1, we will conduct a literature review to ensure our work is well grounded and builds upon existing theory and research; and then develop the programme with the help of small groups of key stakeholders (care home residents and family members, care home activities coordinators, communication specialists), in a co-design process which will draw on their expertise and experience. The co-design process will require ethical approval for the participation of the care home residents, care home staff, and speech and language therapists (SLTs). Care home providers do not routinely fund speech and language services and so residents access NHS services (including SLT) as they would if they were living in the community. The SLTs we intend to approach will be NHS staff with experince in the communincation needs of older people, and where posible with experience of input to care homes.
For study aims 2) and 3) we will test whether the storytelling programme works with adults living in residential homes by comparing language and wellbeing assessment scores before and after the STARs programme and by checking that they are happy with the programme (acceptability). We will then consider the programme’s wider impact by qualitatively interviewing care home residents and their families, care home staff, and care home managers. We are applying for ethical approval to involve the care home residents and staff in these study activities.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0045
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion