The Optimal Time Study: Multiple perspectives on the timing of moving into care homes by people with dementia
Purpose
Deciding when to move to a care home may be difficult for some people with dementia and their carers. Our review of the literature suggested that people with dementia are often not included in decisions, potentially impacting on longer-term adjustment in the care home. Determining when (if any) is an ‘optimal time’ to move may be challenging. This study explored: (1) factors that affect decision to move; (2) drivers of this decision; (3) when (if any) may be considered an ‘optimal’ time.
Timescale
2016-20
Funding
NIHR School for Social Care Research
Methods
This was a three-part study. Part 1: a systematic review to identify gaps in current understanding. Part 2: qualitative interviews with people living with dementia in care homes, family carers, care home managers and social workers. Part 3: factorial survey presented to dementia care practitioners to ascertain which combination of factors are used to decide if or when a person living with dementia should move to a care home.
Findings
Findings reveal how emotionally intense the experience of making a decision about a care home move may be, and that carers would like more support at this time. The factorial survey was completed by 100 dementia care practitioners. This found that the person living with dementia's wishes were the over-riding factor that influenced practitioners’ decisions on the time of a move.
See our publications under Outputs below.
Publications
Report
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2019) Investigating 'optimal time': Perspectives on the timing of people living with dementia moving to a care home: Research findings, London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Cole, L., Bisquera, A., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) Factors affecting dementia care practitioners’ decision-making on moves to a care home for persons living with dementia: A factorial survey, Health and Social Care in the Community, 1-11.
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) ‘The time has come’: reflections on the ‘tipping point’ in deciding on a care home move, Aging & Mental Health.
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) Professionals' views on the “optimal time” for people living with dementia to move to a care home, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(1), 136-142.
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2018) Is there an “optimal time” to move to a care home for a person with dementia? A systematic review of the literature, International Psychogeriatrics, 30(1), 1-22.
Professional press
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2020). Moving to a care home - how is the decision made? Journal of Dementia Care, 28(2), 20-21.
Of related interest
Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2020) Interviewing people living with dementia in social care research, London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Conferences
We have presented study findings on 24 occasions, including six international conferences.
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2019) Multiple perspectives on what (if any) is an optimal time for people with dementia to move to a care home, In Innovation in Aging (S1 ed., Vol. 3, pp. S119-S119)
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2017) Is there an 'optimal time' for a person with dementia to move to a care home? In Alzheimer's & Dementia (7 ed., Vol. 13, pp. P1172-P1173).
News
What You Really Want to Know About Life with Dementia
Unit research features in new book

Publications
Report
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2019) Investigating 'optimal time': Perspectives on the timing of people living with dementia moving to a care home: Research findings, London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Cole, L., Bisquera, A., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) Factors affecting dementia care practitioners’ decision-making on moves to a care home for persons living with dementia: A factorial survey, Health and Social Care in the Community, 1-11.
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) ‘The time has come’: reflections on the ‘tipping point’ in deciding on a care home move, Aging & Mental Health.
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2021) Professionals' views on the “optimal time” for people living with dementia to move to a care home, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(1), 136-142.
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2018) Is there an “optimal time” to move to a care home for a person with dementia? A systematic review of the literature, International Psychogeriatrics, 30(1), 1-22.
Professional press
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2020). Moving to a care home - how is the decision made? Journal of Dementia Care, 28(2), 20-21.
Of related interest
Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2020) Interviewing people living with dementia in social care research, London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Conferences
We have presented study findings on 24 occasions, including six international conferences.
Samsi, K., Cole, L., & Manthorpe, J. (2019) Multiple perspectives on what (if any) is an optimal time for people with dementia to move to a care home, In Innovation in Aging (S1 ed., Vol. 3, pp. S119-S119)
Cole, L., Samsi, K., & Manthorpe, J. (2017) Is there an 'optimal time' for a person with dementia to move to a care home? In Alzheimer's & Dementia (7 ed., Vol. 13, pp. P1172-P1173).
News
What You Really Want to Know About Life with Dementia
Unit research features in new book

Our Partners

NIHR School for Social Care Research

Principal Investigator
Kritika Samsi
Senior Research Fellow