Get involved with Homeside

One person reading a book and another person playing guitar; wording 'Homeside - partnership in dementia care' underneath

Here you will find details about how to get involved and what to expect if you take part.

You can join the study if:

  • you or your relative have a diagnosis of dementia or show signs of dementia
  • you are, or you have, a family (or informal) caregiver
  • you live together at home.

During the Homeside research project:

  • everything will take place in your own home. Our project staff will travel to you or meet with you via video call. We'll arrange all appointments to suit you
  • you will participate in the study for six months
  • caregivers will receive training from experienced professionals to use music or reading activities at home with the person they care for
  • you both will be asked to fill out questionnaires at three points: at the beginning, after three months and after six months. 

What can we expect if we decide to take part?

You will be assigned at random to one of the following three programmes: a music programme, reading programme, or control programme. Your involvement in the project will depend on which of these programmes you are assigned to and be tailored to your individual preferences and needs. 

The music programme

If you are assigned to the music programme, a trained music therapist will come to your home. They'll offer you three training sessions to help you learn to use music in everyday life with dementia. The music programme will:

  • teach you how to use music to effectively respond to the symptoms of dementia.
  • offer opportunities to share meaningful moments together
  • offer opportunities to try and improve (new) skills
  • offer opportunities to sing together, listen to music, dance, play music and to communicate with each other
  • support you to use music in your daily life.

The activities you'll use are based on well-established music therapy methods that have been widely studied in people with dementia.

The reading programme

If you are assigned to the reading programme, a trained occupational therapist will come to your home. They'll offer you three training sessions to help you learn to use reading and the spoken word in everyday life with dementia. The reading programme will:

  • teach you how to use reading to effectively respond to the symptoms of dementia.
  • offer opportunities to share meaningful moments together
  • offer opportunities to try and improve (new) skills
  • offer opportunities to read together, listen to stories and to communicate with each other
  • support you to use reading in your daily life.

The activities you'll use are based on reading interventions that have been used in clinical practice with people with dementia.

The control programme

If you are assigned to the control programme, you will not receive any music or reading training or be asked to do any additional music or reading. You will have the option to access either the music or reading programme after your study participation free of charge. 

Assessments and data collection

We will ask you to fill out questionnaires about your health and wellbeing at three points during the study:

  • one week before the before intervention begins
  • one week after the intervention ends
  • three months after the intervention ends

Where are we looking for participants?

We're currently looking for participants across England, Wales and Scotland.

Get in touch

If you're interested in taking part in this study or would like more information, please contact us.

Dr Ming-Hung Hsu or Dr Jonathan Pool
Tel: 01223 695401
Email: [email protected]

Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research
Anglia Ruskin University
Young Street
Cambridge CB1 2LZ