Approximately two-thirds of people living with dementia reside in the community, with most expressing a desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
Achieving this requires creating physically and socially supportive environments that help maintain their independence.
The housing sector plays a crucial role in this journey, supporting individuals at various stages, including:
- Pre and post-diagnosis
- Helping homeowners or tenants stay in existing homes
- Assisting with downsizing or adapting homes to meet changing needs
- Facilitating transitions to suitable supported living environments
Despite the importance of their role, little research has explored the current knowledge and specific training needs of housing professionals in the UK regarding dementia care. Enhancing dementia training within this sector is critical to better support those living with dementia to age in place.
This study aims to assess dementia knowledge within the housing sector and identify priority areas for training.
Understanding the experiences of housing professionals and people with dementia
Using a participatory mixed methods design the project will:
- Explore the current level of dementia knowledge among professionals in the housing sector.
- Understand housing professionals’ experiences with people living with dementia and their caregivers, including challenging scenarios and training needs.
- Investigate the experiences of people with dementia and their families in engaging with housing professionals, highlighting perceived challenges and opportunities for improved support.
Data collection is expected to take place between January and June 2025.