The PhD project encompasses two studies.
The first study is a systematic review which has established a prevalence of low-intake dehydration (from not drinking sufficiently), amongst older adults in community and long-term care settings, using robust measures. The second study (The DRINC Study) is exploring how older residents living with dementia, drink within in a care home setting. We hope to gain a better, more nuanced understanding of drinking, which will enable us to design and develop evidence-based drinking interventions for people living in care homes.
Key Research Aim
This mixed-methods PhD project aims to better understand the complex issue of low-intake dehydration amongst older adults, particularly those living with dementia in long term care settings, and to explore ways of promoting and improving drinking for these individuals.
Research Design and Outputs
This PhD project uses mixed-methods and has two main objectives:
- Establish the prevalence of low-intake dehydration amongst older adults (≥65 years), in community and long-term care settings - Systematic Review protocol
- Explore and understand how people living with dementia drink in a care home setting.
Outputs
The findings from this research will be published in appropriate and relevant peer-reviewed journals. The findings will be further disseminated on social media, at conferences/meetings and in the local media. The findings will be presented to PpiRes (patient and public engagement in research), Alzheimer’s Research network and at the University of East Anglia’s Bitesize seminars.
The D-DRINC Study
An Inclusive approach to understand drinking, for people living with dementia in a care home.
In order to explore and understand how people living with dementia drink in care homes, we are carrying out an in-depth ethnographic case study within a care home in Norfolk.
Within the D-DRINC study, we will be observing and interviewing care home residents living with dementia, care staff (any role and any grade), visiting health professionals and family caregivers/visitors.
For more information about the study, please view the short research summary:
Study Documents
Please find here the participant information sheets, which will tell you about the D-DRINC study.
- Easy-read participant information sheet
- Standard participant information sheet
- Personal consultee information sheet
- Nominated consultee information sheet
If you have read the appropriate information sheet and would like to take part in the D-DRINC study, please complete and sign the appropriate consent/declaration form below, and then email it to ellice.parkinson@uea.ac.uk.
You can electronically sign them using Adobe.
(Please Note: Easy-read consent forms will be completed in person)
Research Team
Lead Researcher: Ellice Parkinson
Supervisory Team: Dr Diane Bunn, Dr Lee Hooper and Professor Fiona Poland
Systematic Review Team: Ellice Parkinson, Diane Bunn, Judith Fynn, Lee Hooper, Stephanie Howard Wilsher, Titilopemi Oladosu, Simone Roberts, Elien Van Hout.