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Building an initial understanding of UK Recovery College dementia courses: a national survey of Recovery College and memory services staff

Emma Wolverson (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK)
Leanne Hague (Department of Research and Development, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Juniper West (Department of Research and Development, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Bonnie Teague (Department of Research and Development, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK and Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK)
Christopher Fox (College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK and Department of Older People’s Services, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Linda Birt (School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK)
Ruth Mills (Department of Older People’s Services, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Tom Rhodes (Department of Research and Development, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Kathryn Sams (Department of Older People’s Services, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK)
Esme Moniz-Cook (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK)

Working with Older People

ISSN: 1366-3666

Article publication date: 24 July 2023

32

Abstract

Purpose

Recovery Colleges were developed to support the recovery of people with mental health difficulties through courses co-produced by professionals and people with lived experience. This study aims to examine the use of Recovery Colleges to support people with dementia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was circulated to UK Recovery College and memory service staff, exploring provision, delivery and attendance of dementia courses. Open responses provided insight into participant views about recovery in post-diagnostic support and the practicalities of running dementia courses.

Findings

A total of 51 Recovery College staff and 210 memory service staff completed the survey. Twelve Recovery College dementia courses were identified across the UK. Three categories emerged from the qualitative data: post-diagnostic support, recovery in the context of dementia, challenges and areas of innovation.

Originality/value

This study highlights the benefits and practicalities of running Recovery College courses with people with dementia. Peer-to-peer learning was seen as valuable in post-diagnostic support but opinions were divided about the term recovery in dementia.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Recovery College and memory services staff from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust who kindly piloted their survey. Thanks to the wider DiSCOVERY study team: Fiona Poland, Rachael Litherland, Melanie Handley, Geoffrey Wong, Claire Duddy, Charlotte Wheeler, Corinna Hackmann, Claire Mutimer and Robert Kelly. A final thank you to all survey participants who contributed their valuable time and knowledge to the outcomes.

This study was funded by the NIHR [NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (NIHR131676, 2022–2024)]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Declaration of interest statement: The authors confirm they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Citation

Wolverson, E., Hague, L., West, J., Teague, B., Fox, C., Birt, L., Mills, R., Rhodes, T., Sams, K. and Moniz-Cook, E. (2023), "Building an initial understanding of UK Recovery College dementia courses: a national survey of Recovery College and memory services staff", Working with Older People, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-02-2023-0003

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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