{"id":2061,"date":"2024-02-06T18:39:21","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T18:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/palliativeprojects.eu\/blog\/2024\/02\/06\/ucc\/"},"modified":"2024-10-23T10:24:12","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T10:24:12","slug":"ucc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/palliativeprojects.eu\/blog\/2024\/02\/06\/ucc\/","title":{"rendered":"UCC led consortium on Dementia Palliative Care Awarded \u20ac7.5m Horizon Europe Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency in older adults affecting almost 8 million people in the European Union and is expected to nearly double by 2050 to over 14 million people. As dementia progresses, a person may require high levels of care and placement in a nursing home setting often becomes necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Project Coordinator Professor Nicola Cornally believes the In-Touch intervention could herald a major change in the way that care for people with advanced dementia in the palliative phase of their illness is provided in Nursing Homes across Europe.v<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
University College Cork (UCC) researchers have been awarded \u20ac7.5 million in EU funding to help improve the quality of life of people with advanced dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dedicated group, In-Touch Consortium, composed of 13 institutions across the EU, UK and Canada was established to explore the effectiveness and economic benefits of a multi-component, non-pharmacological intervention for people with dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UCC Principal Investigators Professor Nicola Cornally and Professor Suzanne Timmons are co-coordinators of the In-Touch consortium awarded \u20ac7.5 million by Horizon Europe, the EU\u2019s key funding programme for research and innovation. Dr Irene Hartigan, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, is leading on education development and preparation of trainees on the palliative care intervention across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The In-Touch project, over the next five years, will establish a trial in 56 care homes across seven countries looking at dementia palliative care including pain and symptom management, staff capabilities, polypharmacy and decision-making ensuring that residents with dementia receive optimal palliative care. The project seeks to reduce social isolation by engaging people with advanced dementia and their families in tailored, group-based, multi-sensory activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A major change in care for people with advanced dementia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Nicola Cornally believes this intervention could change the way that care for people with advanced dementia in the palliative phase of their illness is provided in Nursing Homes across Europe. “In-Touch will help us have an immediate positive impact on the well-being of people with advanced dementia, it should reduce social isolation and improve engagement in meaningful person-centred activities. There is a critical need for a non-pharmacological intervention for people with advanced dementia that can improve quality of life in nursing homes and address staff and family learning needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Suzanne Timmons<\/strong>, consultant geriatrician and Principal Investigator in the Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, UCC said: “This project builds on expertise in the College of Medicine and Health on palliative care for people living with dementia. This project aims to deliver an ethically sound and evidence-based intervention that is cost-effective to implement with family members more involved in and knowledgeable about comfort care and future care plans.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n