Life thorough a Lens

Abstract

Anonymised interview transcripts and nvivo analysis. As numbers of people with an intellectual disability and dementia increase globally, strategies and interventions to reduce stress or agitation are sought. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions and facilitators and challenges to their implementation. The mixed-method participatory action study included 16 participants with intellectual disability and dementia across 16 separate sites; 22 social care workers and five co-researchers with intellectual disability. Data were collected using validated and bespoke tools and interviews. Analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics and framework analysis. Interventions enabled participant goals to be met or exceed expectations. Barriers and facilitators to implementation included themes of enabling care and interventions as tools for practice suggesting that psychosocial interventions have potential to reduce distress or agitation and ‘as required’ medication.