Strategic and operational issues in sustaining community-based dementia support groups: the Get Real with Meeting Centres realist evaluation part 2.

Objectives: Support for people with dementia in their communities is neither robust nor consistent in the UK, often bolstered by third sector/grass-roots initiatives facing formidable challenges in sustaining long-term. The Get Real with Meeting Centres project explored factors involved in sustaining one such form of community-based support. This is the second of two linked articles outlining learning from this realist evaluation of Meeting Centres (MCs) for people with dementia and carers, which focusses on findings regarding their operational and strategic running.

Reaching people and managing membership in community-based dementia support groups: the Get Real with Meeting Centres realist evaluation part 1.

Objectives: There is a need to improve the provision and reach of community services for people living with dementia, a goal in which community-based support groups can play a key role. The Get Real with Meeting Centres project aimed to explore factors involved in the success and sustainability of Meeting Centres (MCs) a form of community-based support proliferating in the UK. This is the first of two linked articles outlining learning from this realist evaluation of MCs, which focusses on findings around reach and membership.