Delivering a hearing and vision support intervention for people with dementia: looking "under the hood" of the SENSE-Cog trial pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: Acceptable hearing and vision rehabilitation is needed to improve quality of life for people with dementia (PwD) living at home. We examined delivery and uptake of SENSE-Cog, a complex sensory support intervention (SSI), within a European multicentre randomised controlled trial.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

PwD with hearing and/or vision loss were randomised to an 18-week home-based SSI or sensory care-as-usual. A mixed-methods design included assessments at baseline, 18 and 36 weeks and qualitative interviews with Sensory Support Therapists (SSTs). Reporting followed TIDieR. COVID-19 restrictions necessitated a streamlined SSI. Trial registration: ISRCTN17056211.

RESULTS

The trial enrolled 252 dyads (PwD + study partner). In the active arm (n = 124), fidelity-completion of all primary components-was 60% (75/124); participants received a mean of 6.3 SST visits. Of 124 assessed for hearing loss, 101 (81%) were prescribed hearing aids with acceptable adherence (Likert mean 3.85/5). Among those receiving vision assessment, 43 (35%) were prescribed glasses, with reported use of 4-8 h/day. Greater cognitive impairment was associated with more SST contact (higher "dose").

CONCLUSIONS

Fidelity of the SSI was variable but appeared appropriately tailored, with higher intervention dose in those with greater cognitive impairment. Care partners were central in supporting sensory health-related behaviour change.