Blogs

mySupport study blog articles

Patient Public Involvement (PPI) in research, reflections from the mySupport strategic guiding council podcast

Author: Dr Irene Hartigan, University College Cork & Dr Rene Gonzales
Author: Bianca Tétrault, Social Work Intern, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Author: Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
Date of Publication: January 2023

End-of-life Care Conversations: Reflections from mySupport Study Symposium

Author: Dr Irene Hartigan, University College Cork & Dr Rene Gonzales
Date of Publication: November 2022

Life as junior palliative dementia care researcher during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author: Laura Bavelaar, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands.
Date of Publication: October 2022

Cultural differences and advance care planning for residents with dementia in nursing homes– emerging considerations and recommendations from the mySupport study

Authors: Alan Connolly, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, Silvia Gonella, University of Turin, Italy, Karolina Vlckova, Center for Palliative Care, Czech Republic, Laura Bavelaar, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, Nicola Cornally and Irene Hartigan, University College Cork, Republic of Ireland.
Date of Publication: June 2022

Keywords: cultural awareness and sensitivities, death, long term care facilities, education

The importance of small-scale residential care units for people with dementia in the Netherlands

Author: Marianne van Brussel, mySupport study Strategic Guiding Council member, the Netherlands
Date of Publication: April 2022

Keywords: demographic developments, dementia, policy developments, small-scale residential care units in the nursing home and in the community, quality of life

A diagnosis of ‘dementia’ is not enough; the type of dementia influences the window for shared decision-making

Author: Professor Suzanne Timmons, Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork
Date of Publication: March 2022

Keywords: Dementia type, diagnosis, progression, anticipating symptoms, conversations, advanced care planning

‘Necessary Discussions’, supporting family carers and staff in advance care planning during a COVID-19 outbreak in a care home

Author: Professor Kevin Brazil, Professor of Palliative Care School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom
Date of Publication: February 2022

Keywords:  Advance care planning, care homes, nursing homes, online resource

Changes to Dutch policy on care homes and the impact to older adults

Author: Marianne van Brussel, mySupport study Strategic Guiding Council member, the Netherlands
Date of Publication: November 2021

Keywords: healthcare policy changes, economy measures, wishes of older people, loneliness

How can we support family caregivers of people with an intellectual disability and dementia?

Author: Caroline Lennon-Nally, mySupport study Strategic Guiding Council member and Maria Nicula, McMaster University, Canada
Date of Publication: October 2021

Keywords: Intellectual disability, Down’s syndrome, Dementia, Palliative care, Family caregivers, Classic diagnostic tools, Cognitive Assessment, Neuroimaging

Supporting the Implementation of Comfort Care at the End-of-Life

Author: Bianca Tétrault, Social Work Intern, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Date of Publication: September 2021

Keywords: Dementia, Comfort care, Stuck points, End of life care decision making, social change, Compassionate understanding, Storytelling

Being on one ship: Developing trust between family carers and nursing home staff requires effective communication

Authors: Hana Convoy, mySupport study Strategic Guiding Council and Karolína Vlčková, Center for Palliative Care, Czech Republic
Date of Publication: August 2021

Keywords:Dementia, Nursing home, Communication, Trust

An International Early Career Research Committee – Members’ Experiences

Authors: Dr Adrienne McCann, Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom
Date of Publication: July 2021

Keywords: Early career researcher, Peer support, Capacity building, Mentorship, Knowledge transfer and exchange

Establishing an International Early Career Research Committee and Mentorship Programme

Authors: Dr Serena FitzGerald, University College Cork, Ireland and mySupport study Co-Investigator and Early Career Research Committee Director
Date of publication: July 2021

Keywords: Early career researcher, Peer support, Capacity building, Mentorship, Knowledge transfer and exchange

Developing an International Public and Patient Involvement Group for Dementia Research

Authors: Danielle Just, McMaster University and Emily Di Sante, McMaster University
Date of publication: June 2021

Keywords: Patient and Public Involvement, family carers, end-of-life care, good death

The development of a question prompt list to support family caregivers of people with dementia in advance care planning

Author: Laura Bavelaar, MSc Leiden University Medical Center
Date of publication: May 2021

Keywords: Dementia, Family caregiver, Patient engagement, Shared decision making, End-of-life care, Nursing home

COVID-19 Restricted family access measures in Canada; the impact on nursing home staff

Authors: Dr Tamara Sussman, McGill University, Ms. Susan Mintzberg, McGill University and Dr Sharon Kaasalainen, McMaster University
Date of publication: April 2021

Keywords: moral distress; family visitation; compassion

Residents and families mourn as restrictions are imposed on visiting nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author: Dr Irene Hartigan, University College Cork
Date of publication: February 2021

Keywords: restricted visiting, long-term care environments, separation, anticipatory grief, loss, anticipatory mourning

Do We All Have an Advance Care Plan?

Author: Dr Karen Harrison Dening, Dementia UK
Date of publication: December 2020

Keywords: Advance Care Planning

Preventing, Correcting, and Managing Undernutrition in a Person with Dementia

Author: Dr Irene Hartigan, University College Cork
Date of publication: November 2020

Keywords: Hydration, Nutrition, Dementia, Comfort feeding, Autonomy, Decision-Making

The Impact of Contextual Factors on End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes in the Czech Republic

Author: Karolina Vlckova, MSc., Centre for Palliative Care
Date of publication: October 2020

Keywords: End-of-life care, Nursing Homes, Advance Care Planning, Palliative Care, Advance Directives

Advance Care Planning as a Medium for Providing Care Aligned to Peoples Wishes

Author: Dr Nicola Cornally, University College Cork
Date of publication: March 2020

Keywords:  Advance Care Directive, Advance Care Planning, Self-determination Theory, End-of-life Decision Making