‘I’m not a failure for asking for help’: A mixed method service evaluation of Strategies for Relatives (START) programme

Abstract

The STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) programme was developed by Livingstone et al. (2014) to address the gap in NHS interventions available for carers of People Living With Dementia (PLWD) in the United Kingdom. Previous research by Conway and Straughan (2017) suggested that the programme was clinically effective in improving quality of life and carer stress for family members caring for those with dementia, within local NHS mental health services. The current study offers a mixed method evaluation of the START programme in the North East of England, including t-tests of pre- and post-outcome data (N= 24) and qualitative semi-structured interviews with carers of People Living With Dementia (n= 6). Outcome measures demonstrated statistically significant improvements in carer quality of life and wellbeing, as well as a significant reduction in carer strain, post intervention. Therefore, the findings offer further support as to the benefits of the START programme identified by previous research. During semi-structured interviews, carers described profound emotional changes captured in themes of reducing guilt, realising their caring abilities, and feeling more able to reach out for support. These benefits had not been captured during previous research by Conway and Straughan (2017). The results of this study provide further evidence of the benefits of the START programme within local NHS services in improving carer wellbeing.