Implementing STrAtegies for RelaTives of people with dementia (START) as a group: a service-level case study of collaboration between Talking Therapies and Memory Services
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Authors
Cannon, V., Kuhn, R., Turnbull, G. and Charlesworth, G
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Issue Date
04-Nov-24
Type
Journal Article
Language
Keywords
Mental Health
Alternative Title
Abstract
Abstract
National guidance recommends that relatives of people with dementia receive support to develop coping strategies. STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) is an evidence-based manualised intervention for delivery on a one-to-one basis by trained graduate psychologists to family carers of people with dementia. However, implementation of START in standard National Health Service (NHS) provision has proved difficult. We describe collaboration between a Talking Therapies service and a Memory Service to co-facilitate and run START as a group. We consider implementation outcomes according to RE-AIM domains showing: the collaboration reached higher number of carers than other implementation initiatives (reach); there was significant reduction in caregiver anxiety and a trend towards significant reduction in depression (effectiveness); feedback from service users and clinicians on the service model has been positive (adoption); delivery has been supported by the written and audio materials (implementation); and the initiative has sustained over five years, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and staff turnover (maintenance). Finally, we discuss implications and potential future development.
Key learning aims
(1) To develop knowledge about the content of the STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) coping intervention for family carers of people with dementia.
(2) To understand the similarities between low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression, as provided by Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs), and START psychoeducational content and skills exercises.
(3) To reflect on the rationale for group delivery of START.
(4) To consider the benefits of collaboration between Talking Therapies and Memory Services for implementing START.
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Citation
The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. 2024;17:e37. doi:10.1017/S1754470X24000291
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Journal
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist
Volume
17