An evaluation of the impact and experience of a Mindfulness Based Intervention to improve the mental health & wellbeing of former carers

This project is being delivered as part of the East & West Suffolk CCGs Equity in Mind Fund, via Suffolk Community Foundation and Gatehouse Charity. The aim of the project is to understand the impact of a ‘Mindfulness for later life’ course on the mental health, quality of life and wellbeing of a sample of former carers (ie carers whose loved one has died ) in Suffolk. Routinely collected data on outcomes from the Mindfulness for later life course indicates that the mental health difficulties of former carers, are more severe than those with an existing mental health diagnosis, current carers, or non-carers. Furthermore, their mental health improves to a greater extent following the course. This project will explore these outcomes in more depth and provide robust qualitative evidence of impact over the medium term. The evidenced capacity of this accessible and low cost intervention to improve the psychological health and wellbeing of former carers could have national relevance and significance.

Principal Investigator: Adele Pacini

Link to project website

Developing ‘good’ support for student carers: a cross university study

This is the second study in a two-phase project to further develop understanding of how caring responsibilities affect student study, persistence and retention. The outcomes of the study will used to strengthen existing guidelines and support for student carers.

Funded internally by WELS Scholarship Research funding.

Principal Investigators: Dr Chris Kubiak and Professor Mary Larkin

Co-investigators: Tajinder Gill, Dr Manik Manik Deepak-Gopinath, Julie Messenger and Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Growing Older Planning Ahead

The project is focused on improving support for older people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge, family and professional carers, and supporting end of life care planning for carers. An increase in the life expectancy of people with learning disabilities and real reductions in the availability of services, can lead to an increased risk of crisis placements. Our study aims to improve support for family (and professional) carers and older people with learning disabilities with behaviours that challenge others by producing effective and workable recommendations and resources including end of life care planning for carers.

This project is a collaboration with partners in the community and investigators from The Open University, Manchester metropolitan University, University of Oxford, Kingston University and several other partners. This project is funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Health Services and Delivery Research Programme (NIHR129491) project website

Principle Investigator: Prof Sara Ryan (Manchester Metropolitan University) & Prof Louise Wallace

Co-investigators: Professor Mary Larkin, Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Research fellow Dr Joanne Jordan

Supporting carers via online dancing interventions

Our study on Covid-19 Carers & Physical Activity (funded internally by SRA) and series of systematic reviews indicate that although carers wish to engage in PA activities in the community, finding time to attend relevant classes whilst being the sole full-time carers prevents them from doing so. In this study we will evaluate the feasibility of an existing online dancing intervention for carers in its two modes of delivery (synchronous/livestreamed with live engagement of the teacher and asynchronous/recorded).

We are collaborating with colleagues across the OU & partners from Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, University of Bedfordshire, person with lived experience with lived experience and a large Advisory Board whose members represent Carers Bedfordshire, Carers Northamptonshire, Carers Lincolnshire, Carers Buckinghamshire, Carers Centre Brighton & Parish Nursing Ministries. This study was funded by internal Open University Impact Fund.

Principal Investigator: Dr Jitka Vseteckova

OU Co-investigators: Dr Jo Horne, Dr Nichola Kentzer, Dr Rosaria Gracia

Physical activity and relationship to physical activity for carers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Caring responsibilities can have a major impact on wellbeing. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 80% of 8,000 unpaid carers lacked the time to take part in physical activity due to their caring duties. Through this research study we are keen to develop a conceptual map of carer experience via a word association activity, journey map/timeline and interviews to enhance our understanding of the carers’ relationship with physical activity. We will also add to the evidence base through a series of systematic reviews.

We are collaborating with colleagues across the OU & partners from Carers in Bedfordshire, University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Diabetes UK, person with lived experience and other academic as well as non-academic colleagues. This study was funded by internal Open University Health and Wellbeing SRA - COVID-19 Research Grant Development Fund. Study website

Principal Investigator : Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Co-investigators: Dr Jo Horne, Dr Nichola Kentzer, Prof Mary Larkin, Dr Martin Robb

Keepmewalking – walks in the parks for people living with dementia and their carers

Although we know that exercise interventions for people living with dementia have the potential to support their wellbeing, little is known about what supports continuous engagement with such interventions. This study is an evaluation of Walking Programme organised by The Parks Trust MK for older people living with dementia in Milton Keynes. The research will examine the participation achieved and the reasons this may differ between individuals. It will seek to understand the challenges, limitations and opportunities in the implementation of outdoor Walking Programme for residents with dementia and develop process measures and outcomes for routine data collection. We are collaborating with colleagues across the OU & The Parks Trust MK partners from University of Northampton, University of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Diabetes UK and other academic and non-academic colleagues. This study was partially funded by internal Open University Health and Wellbeing SRA Grant Development Fund.

Principal Investigator : Dr Jitka Vseteckova

OU Co-investigators: Dr Yoseph Ayra, Dr Erica Borgstrom, Dr Manik Gopinath, Dr Rosaria Gracia, Dr Jo Horne, Dr Nichola Kentzer, Dr Gemma Ryan

Research Fellow: Dr Joseph DeLappe

Involvement services evaluation - Supporting Commissioning, Learning, and Participation through Research

Hertfordshire County Council and the two Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (Herts Valleys CCG and East and North Herts CCG) fund Carers in Hertfordshire to provide a Carers Involvement service. This service supports family carers and caring friends to have a voice in the planning and performance review of health and social care services for diverse groups of carers. The overall aim of the research is to provide an evidence-based platform for the continuous improvement of the Carers Herts Involvement Services and support the organisation’s agenda for Commissioning, Learning and Participation. Our approach focuses less on evaluation and more on concentrating energy and resources to support the development, operations, and implementation targets of the programme. We are collaborating with colleagues across the OU & Carers in Hertfordshire, University of Bedfordshire and academic and non-academic colleagues. This study was funded by Carers in Hertfordshire and match funded by internal Open University Funds (RESDEV & Central WELS RES Fund).

Principal Investigator : Dr Jitka Vseteckova

OU Co-investigator: Dr Kerry Jones

Research Fellow: Dr Irtiza Qureshi (University of Bedfordshire)

COVID-19 in long-term care facilities: An international survey of the response, precedents, and outcomes

Data on the response of long-term care (LTC) residential facilities to the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and the precedents and outcomes of this response are minimal. The current study aims to explore how LTC residential facilities responded to the COVID-19 outbreak, identify predictors of this response, and examine how this response influenced LTC facilities’ staff, residents, and residents’ families. This is a cross-sectional, international, online survey of managers and staff in conveniently selected LTC residential facilities globally. We are collaborating with colleagues across the OU & the University of Bedfordshire, and 16 other universities across the world. This study received funding from Japanese government.

Principal Investigators: Prof Noriko Yamamoto-Mitani & Sameh Eltaybani (University of Tokyo)

Co-Investigators: Dr Jo Horne, Dr Nichola Kentzer, Dr Jitka Vseteckova

K314 pilot: Carers Forum - what do carers really think?

This project is associated with HWSC scholarship projects investigating how being a carer challenges and affects student study, persistence and retention. This project is building on previous research. In theory, the flexibility and open access offered by The Open University suggests that it has the potential to be experienced more positively than other forms of HE study by student carers. However, apart from a recent pilot project carried out by OU Wales and a Recent research and scholarship project (Caring about student carers), there is a distinct dearth of knowledge about supporting student carers in HE generally and the OU specifically. Our aims were: to explore how students who are carers experience and use module carer forum; to establish why some carers do not use module carers forums; to provide a sound foundation for further University-wide research & scholarship projects in this area. We collaborated with colleagues in OU WELS & FASS and Associate Lecturer as Consultant. This study was funded by Open University Teaching Excellence Fund.

Principal Investigator: Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Co-Investigators: Jennifer Brown, Anna Gillespie, Prof Mary Larkin, Steve Malies, Dr Catherine Pestano

Young carer’s and palliative care

This project will focus on young carers engaged in cancer/palliative care for family members requiring care. It aims to understand what support is given to young carers of family members who are cancer patients and understand their needs.

Principle Investigator: Dr Kerry Jones

Co-Investigator: Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Research Fellow: Dr Joseph DeLappe

Bereaved carers

This project will investigate what support is offered and given to carers of all ages after the death of a family member who was cared for, and how the offered support matches their needs. Funded by The Open University. Registered protocols for carers aged 65 years and older and for carers aged 45 to 64 years old.

Principle Investigator: Dr Kerry Jones

Co-Investigator: Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Physical activity among carers

A team from The Open University and Anglia Ruskin University are working on series of systematic reviews to look at barriers and facilitators and prevalence of physical activity among informal carers in the UK and worldwide. Funded by The Open University. Published output.

Principle Investigators: Dr Jitka Vseteckova and Dr Nichola Kentzer

Open University Co-Investigator: Dr Jo Horne

Young and young adult carers for family members with dementia

With colleagues from the OU, NHS, Carers in Bucks & Careum Hochshule (Switzerland) we are looking at support needs and support offered to young and young adult carers for family members with dementia in the UK & worldwide. Supported by The Open University WELS Fund. Published UK protocol.

Principle Investigator: Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Open University Co-Investigators: Dr Kerry Jones, Dr Jo Horne, Dr Nichola Kentzer, Dr Joe DeLappe

Young and young adult carers for family members with cancer

With colleagues from The OU & Careum Hochschule (Switzerland) we are looking at support offered and support accepted by young and young adult carers for family members with cancer, who may be in receipt of palliative care. Supported by The Open University WELS fund.

Principle Investigator: Dr Kerry Jones

Open University Co-Investigators: Dr Jitka Vseteckova, Dr Jo Horne

Dance and residential care

With colleagues from The OU and dance coaches (national and international) we are looking at the impact of dance and movement on learning, health, well-being and quality of life in older adults living in a residential care setting (or living in community) with or without dementia.Published protocol.

Principle Investigators: Dr Jitka Vseteckova and Dr Rosaria Gracia

Open University Co-Investigators : Dr Nichola Kentzer, Dr Jo Horne, Dr Joe DeLappe, Dr Inma Alvarez