A research team behind the ‘Connected Healthcare’ research programme at Falmouth University is launching a new campaign to recruit unpaid carers to a satellite enabled text messaging study. Taking place over the course of the next six months, the study could help pave the way for more responsive and connected support for carers in Cornwall.   

The team are calling out for informal carers of family and friends from all over Cornwall to join the text messaging study and help shape the future of care provision in the county. The new study will see carers use SMS text messaging to communicate their concerns, thoughts and feelings with researchers. Research teams will use the real-time data from participants as well as ‘natural language processing’ to theme data in order to understand the needs and pressures facing carers in rural and isolated areas.    

Research study lead Anna Mankee-Williams says this new recruitment campaign is an opportunity to introduce a sea change in the way we provide support to unpaid and informal carers, who have borne the brunt of isolation and lack of social and emotional support during the pandemic.   

What’s happening in the study / how to join   

The study will investigate the future possibility of SMS messaging as a method of support as well as the capabilities of satellite technology in providing data for a web-based dashboard accessible by health partners.    

During the course of the study, participants will (via text message) be asked for their thoughts, feelings and views on their caring responsibilities via weekly text prompts. The text responses will be themed to raise the collective voices of carers in Cornwall. These texts can be answered at any time of the day and all data is anonymised. The study findings will be accessible via NHS and social care professionals in Cornwall and could potentially shape future services in the country. 

The anonymised data produced by the study will be hosted at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd and a report of the final study findings will be shared with Cornwall Carers Partnership Board and published for all to see.    

Unpaid or informal carer over the age of 18? Join the study!  

You might not think of yourself as a ‘carer’, but if you have an informal arrangement where you look after a friend or family member for over an hour a week, we’d like to hear from you. Even if you’re a recipient of carer’s allowance, we’d love you to have your say. Find out more and join the study by texting  CHC to  07770 654 123.  

Truro Mayor Steven Webb: study an exciting step in the drive for more support for carers  

The Mayor of Truro Cllr Steven Webb is now getting behind the research study and says the work is an important step in the drive to understand and address the level of challenge facing carers today. Following an accident at the age of nineteen, he became paralysed and has relied on care ever since. He has campaigned vocally about the need for more support for carers in Cornwall.   

He says:   

“It’s important that as we continue to recover from COVID, that we look after our carers. We need to understand the pressures they are under and help agencies and services connect the dots in order to address the current and emerging needs of carers across the spectrum. In order to do that, we need to collect evidence to understand when that pressure is greatest and consider how and where we can help. This is why I'm excited to be part of this project by Falmouth University - they are using modern technology to collect meaningful information that will have real world benefits to carers around Cornwall.”