The right to a care supporter study version 1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The right to a care supporter from the perspectives of people living with dementia and family carers

  • IRAS ID

    326306

  • Contact name

    Caroline EMMER DE ALBUQUERQUE GREEN

  • Contact email

    caroline.green@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    King's College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 5 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    The prolonged social isolation of many people living with dementia in care homes and in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic across England led to increasing calls for the right to a ‘care supporter’. Under this right, people would be able to nominate at least one person, like a relative or friend, to support them in health and care settings, including care homes, GP surgeries or hospitals. This would be similar to the 'Essential Caregiver Role' which was introduced in 2021 during the height of the pandemic to ensure that people receiving care could always have a family member or friend see and support them, which proved difficult to roll out in practice.

    In this study, we will interview carers of people living with dementia (n=25) and people living with dementia who are able to consent to participating in the research (n=5) to explore practical considerations of a potential new right to a care supporter, including the need for guidance for implementation for various groups.

  • REC name

    Social Care REC

  • REC reference

    23/IEC08/0037

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Oct 2023

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion