In this theme there are two streams of work that aim to 1) characterise the mental health of older people, improve preventative and treatment interventions, and 2) to facilitate optimal care pathways at the end of life. The Dementia and Mental Health in Old Age work stream is headed by Dr Tom Dening, Medical Director for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust. The End of Life Care strand of the work is led by Dr Stephen Barclay, a GP and honorary consultant at Arthur Rank Hospice, with extensive experience in palliative care research, education and policy. He has responsibility for the projects that deal with those approaching the end of life, whether or not this is due to old age. Both programmes of work are carried out in collaboration with a range of NHS bodies, but also with charities such as Macmillan Cancer Research and the Alzheimer’s Society (joint funding and funding from sources external to NIHR CLAHRC is indicated where applicable in the following summaries of projects associated with this CLAHRC CP theme). This CLAHRC theme is mainly based in the Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, and at Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, and has funding until September 2013.
Research focus
The theme encompasses population based studies, therapeutic trials and end of life studies. These investigate the natural history of cognition and function in older ages, the effectiveness of particular interventions and quality of life and care at the end of life. The aim of research conducted within the CLAHRC is to strengthen existing research, particularly seeking opportunities within the service setting for collaborative work which has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of older people and others nearing the end of life.
Dementia and Mental Health in Old Age
The Theme has a wide portfolio of projects. Example of inter-agency working include the scoping of a Dementia Register, which would facilitate service planning for those with this condition, service evaluation projects spanning primary and secondary care, and a collaborative project with the Engineering Design Centre looking at service redesign in old age care. Establishing a senior appointment in old age psychiatry aims to further research and training in this region. Evidence synthesis and research dissemination are important elements of our translational work.
End of Life Care
End of Life Care projects have included a GP survey, which is designed to find out the learning needs of General Practitioners regarding palliative care, and a collaborative project run with NHS Cambridgeshire which is exploring the set-up of a new palliative care telephone advice line for practitioners, and an analysis of ‘patient choice’ in End of Life care.
For communication toolkit on End of Life care please click here.
Listen to the podcast given by Dr Stephen Barclay.
