CONNECT study 1

10-2024 to 09-2028

Background: Older people with serious illness increasingly are cared for in the community for long periods. Considering the prolonged and at times complex trajectories, both older persons themselves and their family carers are at risk of social disconnection and are often unaware of the resources and support available to them in their community. This may be even more pervasive in those in structurally vulnerable positions like poverty. To address these issues, social connector programs hold promise. Such programs are being successfully tried in Canada, Australia, and some EU countries. These programs aim to support people confronted with serious illness and family carers throughout their trajectory by connecting them to the services and resources available to them as needed, and to increase social connection and feelings of social support to improve wellbeing and quality of life. Their central component is a connector, usually a trained and dedicated volunteer or professional (e.g. social worker) who engages with people on a personal long-term basis, often into bereavement. 

Current research gaps: There is limited understanding of how social connector programs can be implemented in practice, and what is needed to reach strong impact. Although a few programs have been developed, particularly outside of Europe, it remains unclear which contextual factors influence implementation and outcomes, and how and why a program works. Understanding effective components and particularly their effects on social connection (functional, structural, and quality) and in turn on quality of life and wellbeing of patients and carers, has not been fully explored in different populations of serious illness. Moreover, existing programs have different components (often lacking detailed descriptions), target groups, and outcomes, and are implemented in specific health care contexts, which makes comparison and implementation outside of their original context difficult. 

Scientific objectives: 
1) To develop the components of a generic social connector program (training & implementa\on manuals) for older people with serious illness and family carers, adaptable to various illness trajectories and sociodemographic profiles. 
2) To implement and evaluate the impact, implementa\on, underlying mechanisms of change, and contextual factors affec\ng implementa\on and outcomes of the social connector program. 

Research Foundation Flanders number: 001525N – 56955