About the study
As a person with dementia becomes frailer, they are at an increased risk of falls and infections, often resulting in hospital admission. Most people with dementia would prefer to remain at home to receive treatment, which can be enabled through the use of virtual wards.
Virtual wards are services providing care, monitoring and treatment for patients who would otherwise be in hospital. This can be through face-to-face treatment, as well as using technology. Through virtual wards, patients can be supported to stay at home.
It is currently unclear how different models of virtual ward work with and for people with dementia, whether adaptations are required, or if they face barriers to access. While family carers are critical to supporting people with dementia while on a virtual ward, little is known about how these services can be delivered without increasing responsibilities for families.
The aim of the DEM-VW study is to investigate how virtual wards can best be adapted for people with dementia, as well as the family carers involved in supporting them to stay at home.
The DEM-VW study will be running from autumn 2025 until summer 2028. It involves four work packages.
Work package 1: Policy review
We will look at existing national policy documents influencing delivery of virtual wards, to explore if and how dementia and cognitive impairment have been considered.
Work package 2: Case studies
We will work with four virtual ward services as case studies. From these virtual wards, we will interview people with dementia, family carers, and health and care professionals about their experiences of delivering or receiving care from the virtual ward. We will also explore how the wards run in practice, joining multidisciplinary meetings, shadowing clinical teams, as well as observing people with dementia and their informal carers during their time on a virtual ward.
Work package 3: Survey
We will conduct a national survey, inviting service leads of virtual wards to describe the service they provide and the extent to which this has been set up or adapted for people with dementia.
Work package 4: Co-producing recommendations
Based upon the findings of the policy review, case studies and survey, we will involve key stakeholders to co-produce a set of priorities and recommendations for clinical practice. These recommendations will summarise what an optimal virtual ward should look like for people with dementia.
Work package 1: Policy review
The first work package is now complete, with our policy scoping review having been published in the academic journal Age and Ageing. The review found that available policies highlighted the potential benefits of virtual wards for people living with dementia, including a reduction in anxiety and disorientation, as well as improved clinical outcomes. However, there was also conflicting advice about how to include people with dementia on virtual wards, with some individuals facing routine exclusion. Admission to a virtual ward often relied upon the support of formal carers or family members. From this review, we concluded that future policies should involve more inclusive eligibility criteria, with dementia care being a core competency for virtual ward staff.
You can read the full review here.
Work package 2: Case studies
In summer 2026, we began work on our second work package. Four 'case studies' have now been recruited: these are virtual wards operating in different areas of England who deliver care to people living with dementia. We are in the process of interviewing people linked to the four virtual wards. This includes people with dementia who are currently or have recently been receiving care from the ward, as well as the family carers supporting them. We have also interviewed the health and care professionals working with the ward to deliver care. As part of the case studies, we are also observing what care on a virtual ward looks like, by visiting people in their homes while they are receiving care, as well as shadowing clinical teams. This work package will continue until the end of 2027.
Work package 3: Survey
Our survey for virtual ward service leads is currently live. If you are involved in the delivery of virtual wards in the UK, please get in touch to learn more.
Work package 4: Co-producing recommendations
Our co-production study is due to start in Autumn 2027.