Like to Help?
A project evaluating a 6-week course focusing on helping to improve communication and relationships for care supporters of people living with Dementia.
To take part, you must:
- Be over 18
- Currently be a family carer/care supporter for someone living with Dementia
- Provide emotional or practical support at least weekly.
You will be compensated for your time!
If you are interested, please contact the research team on [email protected]
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
National Institute for Health and Care Research
The University of Manchester
Taking Part in the Empowered Conversations Research
The Empowered Conversations course is currently being delivered as part of a research programme with The University of Manchester.
The programme is open to family members and friends supporting someone with dementia who is still living at home in:
- Greater Manchester
- Lancashire
- North East London
Taking part gives caregivers the opportunity to access the course while also contributing to important research into the difference this approach can make for families affected by dementia.
How the Research Programme Works
We’re delighted to be working in partnership with The University of Manchester on a multi-centre Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) exploring the effectiveness of the Empowered Conversations course.
This is an important final stage of research for a course that has been delivered across Greater Manchester for over 10 years, with more than 200 courses supporting 2,000 families affected by dementia.
What does taking part involve?
From May 2026 to summer 2027, family caregivers wishing to access an Empowered Conversations course will need to sign up for the research trial.
If you take part, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire:
- Before the course
- After the course
- A couple of months later
As well as having the opportunity to benefit from Empowered Conversations, your participation will help researchers understand the difference the course makes. We hope this evidence will enable us to reach and support even more families affected by dementia in the future.
Who can take part?
The study is looking for family carers or care supporters aged 18 or over who are caring for someone living with dementia.
Empowered Conversations is designed to enhance relationships and communication between people living with dementia and their family carers, and the course can be offered in multiple languages.
What does ‘randomised’ mean?
If you are eligible and decide to take part, you will be randomly allocated to one of two groups:
- You have a 66% chance of receiving the Empowered Conversations course straight after your appointment.
- You have a 33% chance of continuing with your usual care initially, with the opportunity to take part in the course six months after your first appointment.
Interested in taking part?
To find out more about the research or get involved:
Email: [email protected]
Call: 07435 921 391
