Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

As our population ages, more family members and friends find themselves in the role of carers for older adults, especially those affected by dementia. These carers play a crucial role in the healthcare system but often face challenges in effectively communicating with healthcare professionals during hospital admissions. This project proposes the development of a toolkit, named the Dementia Carer "What I Need to Know" (DC-WINK) Toolkit, which will be designed to improve these interactions. The research involves carers and healthcare professionals working together to design this toolkit. By sharing their experiences and insights through an online survey and a co-design workshop, they will help create a practical communication framework. This framework will guide carers in obtaining clear and necessary information about their care recipient's condition and treatment during hospital stays. The ultimate goal of the DC-WINK Toolkit is to make hospital visits less stressful and more effective for both carers and healthcare staff, thereby improving the care quality for people living with dementia. This project will not only empower carers in their role but will also inform healthcare practices within hospital settings.