Scaling-up an evidence-based intervention for family carers of people with dementia: current and future costs and outcomes

Knapp, Martin ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215, Lorenz-Dant, Klara, Walbaum, Magdalena, Comas-Herrera, Adelina ORCID: 0000-0002-9860-9062, Cyhlarova, Eva, Livingston, Gill and Wittenberg, Raphael ORCID: 0000-0003-3096-2721 (2024) Scaling-up an evidence-based intervention for family carers of people with dementia: current and future costs and outcomes. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 39 (2). ISSN 0885-6230

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Abstract

Objectives: The STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) intervention is effective and cost-effective in supporting family carers of people with dementia. It is currently not available to all eligible carers in England. What would be the impacts on service costs and carer health-related quality of life if START was provided to all eligible carers in England, currently and in future? Methods: Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness data from a previously conducted randomised controlled trial were combined with current and future projections of numbers of people with newly diagnosed dementia to estimate overall and component costs and health-related quality of life outcomes between 2015 (base year for projections) and 2040. Results: Scaling-up START requires investments increasing annually but would lead to significant savings in health and social care costs. Family carers of people with dementia would experience improvements in mental health and quality of life, with clinical effects lasting at least 6 years. Scaling up the START intervention to eligible carers was estimated to cost £9.4 million in 2020, but these costs would lead to annual savings of £68 million, and total annual quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains of 1,247. Although the costs of START would increase to £19.8 million in 2040, savings would rise to £142.7 million and QALYs gained to 1,883. Conclusions: Scaling-up START for family carers of people with dementia in England would improve the lives of family carers and reduce public sector costs. Family carers play a vital part in dementia care; evidence-based interventions that help them to maintain this role, such as START, should be available across the country.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Personal Social Services Research Unit Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2024 10:42
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2024 08:40
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/121364

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