Network encouraging care homes to get involved in dementia research launches in East Anglia

The Research Ready Care Home Network, which encourages care homes to take part in research studies to improve the treatment and care of people with dementia, has been launched in East Anglia.

The network is run by the Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) programme and works to improve access to research for care homes and residents and help improve the quality of life for residents and other people living with dementia or other illnesses.

Brooke House care home in Norfolk is the first home in East Anglia to sign up to the Network and be offered the chance to get involved in research.

Mandy Masters, Kingley Healthcare group operations manager said: “Brooke House is proud to be the first care home in East Anglia to sign up to ENRICH and be a research ready care home. We believe it is vital to ensure that the quality of life for the people who live with us is paramount and we feel ENRICH is striving to do just that. The more we discover the more we can help meet people's needs.”

ENRICH is run by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Dementia & Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN).

Juniper West, senior research nurse at East Anglia DeNDRoN believes the initiative will be extremely beneficial.

She said: “People who live in care homes are local residents, and like everyone else in the community should be given the opportunity to get involved in research. Being part of this local network recognises and ensures that residents and their staff can play an active role in their local research community.

“We really would encourage all care homes to get involved and take the opportunity to see how active involvement in research can be of benefit to your organisations.”

The Network has already signed up hundreds of care homes across the UK but is still looking for more to sign up.

The Research Ready Care Home section of the website and application form is now open for use in East Anglia, and care homes across the region are encouraged to register at www.enrich.dendron.nihr.ac.uk.