Project information
In-Touch: Implementation of a person-centered palliative care iNtervention To imprOve comfort, QUality of Life and social engagement of people with advanced dementia in Care Homes (In-Touch)

Project Identification
101137270
Project Period
1/2024 - 12/2028
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
European Union
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Economics and Administration
Other MU Faculty/Unit
Faculty of Social Studies
Cooperating Organization
Charles University
University of Ljubljana
University College Cork
Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie
The University of Turin
Portuguese Catholic University
European Association of Palliative Care
Crowdhelix Limited

Challenge. Caring for the increasing numbers of people across Europe with advanced dementia and palliative care needs who live in care homes is difficult and demanding. People wit advanced dementia can be immobile, non-verbal and unable to take part in dayto-day activities. They can be unsettled or agitated, with low quality-of-life and elevated levels of discomfort. Family members can find it difficult to connect meaningfully with their relative and are anxious about the future. Care staff can struggle to provide care other than for basic needs such as feeding, toileting and skin care.
Solution. An ethically sound solution which advances beyond the science, providing both care ‘in-the moment’ (using Namaste Care) and planning for future care needs (using the Family Carer Decision Support ‘Comfort Care’ approach). We call this the In-Touch
intervention. Plan. To deliver a cross-country cluster randomised controlled trial of the In-Touch intervention in 56 nursing care homes across 7 countries to determine its effect on comfort, social engagement and quality of life. This is supported by 9 work packages ensuring that: the intervention is robustly planned and contextualised for different country settings; there is understanding of how it is delivered, and what people experience and ethically value about the intervention; the cost-effectiveness is understood; we have effective plans to transfer knowledge about this intervention if it is successful.
Impact. This intervention could herald a major change in the way that care for people with advanced dementia, in the palliative phase of their illness, is provided across Europe. People with advanced dementia should have better quality of life as they approach death, improved engagement and reduced social isolation. Care staff will have an ethically sound and evidence-based intervention that is cost-effective to implement, with family members more involved in, and knowledgeable about, comfort care and future care plans.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goal No.  3 – Good health and well-being Sustainable Development Goal No.  17 – Partnerships for the goals

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