Operationalising the Recovery College model with people living with dementia: a realist review

Handley, Melanie; Wheeler, Charlotte; Duddy, Claire; Wong, Geoff; Birt, Linda; Fox, Chris; Moniz-Cook, Esme; Hackmann, Corinna; Teague, Bonnie; West, Juniper

Abstract

Objectives: Post-diagnostic support is a significant factor in facilitating personal recovery following a diagnosis of dementia, but access is often inconsistent and insufficient. Recovery Colleges offer peer-led, co-produced courses that can support people to have meaningful lives and have been adapted for use in the context of dementia. A realist review was conducted to understand the application and sustainability of Recovery College dementia courses. Method: An iterative, five-step process combined literature published to 2023 with knowledge from stakeholders with lived and professional experience of dementia involved with Recovery College dementia courses (PROSPERO registration CRD42021293687). Results: Thirty-five documents and discussions with 19 stakeholders were used to build the initial programme theory comprising of 24 context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Reoccurring factors included: attending to aspects of co-production and course delivery to ensure they promoted inclusion and were not compromised by organisational pressures; how stigma impacted access to course opportunities; and embedding personal recovery principles throughout course development to be relevant for people living with dementia and those who support them. Conclusion: People struggling to reconcile their future alongside dementia need practical and emotional support to access and benefit from Recovery College dementia courses, ways to achieve this will be explored through a realist evaluation.

Citation

Handley, M., Wheeler, C., Duddy, C., Wong, G., Birt, L., Fox, C., Moniz-Cook, E., Hackmann, C., Teague, B., & West, J. (2024). Operationalising the Recovery College model with people living with dementia: a realist review. Aging and Mental Health, 28(8), 1078-1089. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2356878

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: May 13, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 8, 2024
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Journal: Aging and Mental Health
• Print ISSN: 1360-7863
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1078-1089
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2356878
• Keywords: Dementia; Recovery Colleges; Post-diagnostic support; Co-production; Realist review
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4706163