Research launched into foot care provision for people with dementia

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) researchers have launched a study into the provision of foot care for people with advanced stage dementia in Scotland.

Professional Doctorate research student and podiatrist Allison Scott, who is leading the project, is looking for family or friends of care home residents with advanced stage dementia to take part.

The study would involve one video interview or focus group meeting with Allison lasting no longer than an hour.

She wants to know what podiatry provision is currently in place in the care home, and why and how family and friends make decisions for the person with dementia.

Allison is a podiatrist who graduated from GCU in 2009, since then she has completed her MSc in Podiatry and has worked in the NHS and private sector including care homes.

She said: “Foot problems are extremely common in older adults and can be painful and debilitating. Older people who live in residential care homes often do not receive any or enough foot care via NHS podiatry services.

“While private foot care is often available in care homes, this comes at a cost, and the decision to bear that cost often does not lie with the resident themselves.

“We are interested in older adults who are unable to make decisions concerning their own care, but may have significant unmet needs for foot care.

“We want to understand more about how decisions are made by care-proxies for their elderly relatives, who may not be able to communicate their symptoms of pain or discomfort. This is especially important for the foot, which is often hidden from view and problems less likely to be detected as a result.

“This study will be the first of a series of studies to generate new knowledge about how care-proxies make decisions for their elderly relatives. The known challenges and conflicts faced by proxy-decision makers when taking over the decision-making process make this a timely and significant societal issue for investigation.”

Allison is a member of the Musculoskeletal Health Research Group in the School of Health and Life Sciences' Research Centre for Health (ReaCH), which makes a direct and significant contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 – good health and wellbeing.

If you would like more information or are interested in taking part in the study then please contact Allison for more information - areid41@caledonian.ac.uk