Evaluation of House of Memories Northern Model                        

February – May 2013

The ICC has been commissioned by National Museums Liverpool (NML) to evaluate its acclaimed House of Memories initiative as it is rolled out to three separate and distinct museum and gallery services across the north of England. Funded by the Department of Health, House of Memories is a tailored dementia care training programme, which uses artistic interpretation, curatorship and reminiscence therapy techniques to raise awareness of the condition, and enable professional health services, carers and families to help those directly affected live well with dementia.

Led by the ICC’s Head of Research Kerry Wilson, the evaluation will consider the transferability, adaptability and impact of the House of Memories model in three regional settings (Salford, Bury and Sunderland), including impact upon partner museum and gallery services; active participants with reference to the care and support of individuals living with dementia; and on services and activities for older people in the regions. Given the core ‘transferability’ and ‘adaptability’ objectives, the evaluation will adopt a Realistic Evaluation approach (Pawson and Tilley, 1997), and consider in depth the situated, region-specific contexts, mechanisms [or practical House of Memories delivery methods] and outcomes throughout the roll-out process. Research methods will include longitudinal pre and post training interviews with a stratified sample of health care participants; participant observation of House of Memories training in action; and reflective interviews with museum and gallery staff.

Kerry is working with Lauren Grindrod, Research Assistant in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at LJMU in close association with Claire Benjamin, Head of Communities at NML – for more information on the evaluation, please contact Kerry@iccliverpool.ac.uk