Research Study

What is this study about?

Hello! My name is Jasmine Hwang. I am a nurse working with older adults and a doctoral student in nursing at the University of Calgary.

With my study, I aim to find out what prevents and supports older adults’ use of non-drug treatments for early or middle dementia. Non-drug treatments are supportive programs offered after diagnosis. Some examples include day programs, counselling, cognitive training, occupational therapy, exercise/social/leisure programs and support groups. To be most helpful, these programs are important for the earlier stages of the illness. But many people with dementia have trouble using or accessing the programs. To understand the patient and family’s perspectives on access barriers, I aim to interview older adults with dementia and their family/friend care partners.

What do we need?

I am looking for Volunteers for the Interview! I am looking for diverse perspectives from seniors and their families. It does not matter whether you have used non-drug treatment programs or not. Your stories are critical to inform future dementia care and services.

You might be eligible if you are an:

(1) older adult (age 65 or older)

· who lives with early or middle dementia

· who lives in your own home, with or without family

Or

(2) family or friend care partner

· who is at least 18 years old

· who provides major care and assistance to the older adult with dementia

What is involved?

If you decide to take part, you will have one or two individual interviews with me for about an hour, either at your home or at the University of Calgary. The interview will be conversational. I will work around your schedule. Participation is voluntary. Your personal information will be confidential. If you wish to receive more information, please contact me!

What is the benefit to you?

There will be no direct benefits to you. Yet I hope that you may enjoy being interviewed, feel helpful to others, and feel empowered by having your voice heard. I can provide you with informational support about various support programs and resources in Calgary. Thank you for your potential participation in this study!

Research study aiming to identify access barriers to obtaining needed information, care, and treatments and future directions for health-promoting services, clinical practice, and education.

The study objectives are to explore and describe:

· how older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia and their families view, understand, and manage dementia

· how older adults with dementia view, understand, and participate in non-drug treatments and their families’ understanding of the treatments

· what factors and how they influence the use of non-drug treatments for older adults with dementia

· patient and family’s perspectives on optimal provision of information, care, and treatments and what matters most to them when using services

Recruiting March to December 2023

To learn more please contact Jasmine Hwang at (825) 437-1100 or jasmine.hwang@ucalgary.ca

This study has been approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB23-0072). Research Website: https://jasminehwang.ca/