{"title":"Wound-Specific Oral Nutritional Supplementation Can Reduce the Economic Burden of Pressure Injuries for Nursing Homes: Results from an Economic Model","authors":"J. Shafrin, Shanshan Wang, K. Kerr","doi":"10.31389/jltc.173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.173","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73381872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Context: The COVID-19 pandemic changed life for everyone, but especially for nursing home residents. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States enacted nursing home restrictions regarding visitation from outside family/friends and changes to facility activity programmes. Objective: This study explored the nursing home policies and practices that preserved relationships among nursing home residents with spouses/partners. Nursing home social workers shared the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on residents’ relationships with spouses/partners and how they sought to maintain these essential social connections to minimise the detrimental effect on the psychosocial well-being of residents. Methods: The study utilised both an online survey and 10 telephone interviews with nursing home social workers in four southern states. Findings: Twenty-eight percent of participants reported that no visitors were allowed, while 25% allowed couples to visit with one another as usual. The most noted practices to maintain social connections were phone calls, video calls, and ‘window’ visits between residents and family/friends; however, as one respondent noted, ‘It’s just not the same. It’s affected them greatly.’ Interviews revealed further details about the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home residents’ overall mental health and attachment relationships with spouses/partners. Limitations: Study limitations exist in the focus on practices in four south-eastern states, with no inclusion of northern US states. An additional limitation of sampling is discussed. Implications: These results highlight the importance of maintaining social connections between residents and spouses/partners. Policies and practices that enhance relationships and connections under all circumstances should be formalised and all health care team members trained to ensure implementation.
{"title":"No Visitors Allowed! The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Nursing Home Residents","authors":"Shanae Logan Shaw, Ellen Csikai","doi":"10.31389/jltc.135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.135","url":null,"abstract":"Context: The COVID-19 pandemic changed life for everyone, but especially for nursing home residents. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States enacted nursing home restrictions regarding visitation from outside family/friends and changes to facility activity programmes. Objective: This study explored the nursing home policies and practices that preserved relationships among nursing home residents with spouses/partners. Nursing home social workers shared the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on residents’ relationships with spouses/partners and how they sought to maintain these essential social connections to minimise the detrimental effect on the psychosocial well-being of residents. Methods: The study utilised both an online survey and 10 telephone interviews with nursing home social workers in four southern states. Findings: Twenty-eight percent of participants reported that no visitors were allowed, while 25% allowed couples to visit with one another as usual. The most noted practices to maintain social connections were phone calls, video calls, and ‘window’ visits between residents and family/friends; however, as one respondent noted, ‘It’s just not the same. It’s affected them greatly.’ Interviews revealed further details about the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home residents’ overall mental health and attachment relationships with spouses/partners. Limitations: Study limitations exist in the focus on practices in four south-eastern states, with no inclusion of northern US states. An additional limitation of sampling is discussed. Implications: These results highlight the importance of maintaining social connections between residents and spouses/partners. Policies and practices that enhance relationships and connections under all circumstances should be formalised and all health care team members trained to ensure implementation.","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135734289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Mathews, Jennifer Xiao, Lindsay Hedden, Julia Lukewich, Emily Gard Marshall, Richard Buote, Leslie Meredith, Lauren Moritz, Dana Ryan, Sarah Spencer, Shabnam Asghari, Paul S. Gill, Jamie Wickett, Eric Wong
Context: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally affected long-term care (LTC) homes and other community-based congregate residential care settings. Although family physicians (FPs) play important roles in the care of residents in LTC homes, provincial pandemic plans make few references to their specific roles in LTC. Objective: To examine the experiences of FPs providing care in LTC homes and other congregate care settings in Canada during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). Methods: As part of a multiple case study, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with FPs across four Canadian regions. Interviews were transcribed, and a thematic analysis approach was employed. Findings: Twenty-one of the 68 FPs interviewed discussed providing care in congregate residential settings, including LTC. We identified three major themes: 1) the roles of FPs in community-based congregate residential care settings during a pandemic, 2) modification of the delivery of routine care, and 3) special workforce considerations in pandemic response for community-based congregate residential care settings. Limitations: We interviewed FPs in four Canadian jurisdictions between October 2020 and June 2021; findings may not be generalisable to later pandemic stages or to other provinces. Our recruitment strategy did not specifically target FPs who worked in different types of congregate residential care facilities; further research is needed to examine these settings in greater depth. Implications: FPs have a unique understanding of the populations they serve and are well suited to plan and implement community-adaptive procedures. Future pandemic plans should implement LTC-related FP roles during the pre-pandemic stage of a pandemic response.
{"title":"Family Physicians’ Roles in Long-Term Care Homes and Other Congregate Residential Care Settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Maria Mathews, Jennifer Xiao, Lindsay Hedden, Julia Lukewich, Emily Gard Marshall, Richard Buote, Leslie Meredith, Lauren Moritz, Dana Ryan, Sarah Spencer, Shabnam Asghari, Paul S. Gill, Jamie Wickett, Eric Wong","doi":"10.31389/jltc.229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.229","url":null,"abstract":"Context: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally affected long-term care (LTC) homes and other community-based congregate residential care settings. Although family physicians (FPs) play important roles in the care of residents in LTC homes, provincial pandemic plans make few references to their specific roles in LTC. Objective: To examine the experiences of FPs providing care in LTC homes and other congregate care settings in Canada during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). Methods: As part of a multiple case study, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with FPs across four Canadian regions. Interviews were transcribed, and a thematic analysis approach was employed. Findings: Twenty-one of the 68 FPs interviewed discussed providing care in congregate residential settings, including LTC. We identified three major themes: 1) the roles of FPs in community-based congregate residential care settings during a pandemic, 2) modification of the delivery of routine care, and 3) special workforce considerations in pandemic response for community-based congregate residential care settings. Limitations: We interviewed FPs in four Canadian jurisdictions between October 2020 and June 2021; findings may not be generalisable to later pandemic stages or to other provinces. Our recruitment strategy did not specifically target FPs who worked in different types of congregate residential care facilities; further research is needed to examine these settings in greater depth. Implications: FPs have a unique understanding of the populations they serve and are well suited to plan and implement community-adaptive procedures. Future pandemic plans should implement LTC-related FP roles during the pre-pandemic stage of a pandemic response.","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136303569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hana Dakkak, Sarah A. Wu, Vanessa Trinca, Allison Cammer, Ruth Harvie, Christina Lengyel, Hannah M. O’Rourke, Susan E. Slaughter, Natalie Carrier, Heather Keller
Context: Mealtimes in long-term care (LTC) settings play a pivotal role in the daily lives of residents. The COVID-19 pandemic and the required precautionary infection control mandates influenced many aspects of resident care within LTC homes, including mealtimes. Limited research has been conducted on how mealtimes in LTC were affected during the pandemic from staff perspectives. Objective: To understand the experiences of LTC staff on providing mealtimes during the pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 staff involved with mealtimes between February and April 2021. Transcripts were analysed using interpretive description. Findings: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) recognizing the influence of homes’ contextual factors. Home size, availability of resources, staffing levels and resident care needs influenced mealtime practices during the pandemic; (2) perceiving a compromised mealtime experience for residents and staff. Staff were frustrated and described residents as being dissatisfied with mealtime and pandemic-initiated practices as they were task-focused and socially isolating and (3) prioritizing mealtimes while trying to stay afloat. An ‘all hands-on deck’ approach, maintaining connections and being adaptive were strategies identified to mitigate the negative impact of the mandates on mealtimes during the pandemic. Limitations: Perspectives were primarily from nutrition and food service personnel. Implications: Overly restrictive public health measures resulted in mealtime practices that prioritized tasks and safety over residents’ quality of life. Learning from this pandemic experience, homes can protect the relational mealtime experience for residents by fostering teamwork, open and frequent communication and being flexible and adaptive.
{"title":"Navigating Mealtimes to Meet Public Health Mandates in Long-Term Care During COVID-19: Staff Perspectives","authors":"Hana Dakkak, Sarah A. Wu, Vanessa Trinca, Allison Cammer, Ruth Harvie, Christina Lengyel, Hannah M. O’Rourke, Susan E. Slaughter, Natalie Carrier, Heather Keller","doi":"10.31389/jltc.217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.217","url":null,"abstract":"Context: Mealtimes in long-term care (LTC) settings play a pivotal role in the daily lives of residents. The COVID-19 pandemic and the required precautionary infection control mandates influenced many aspects of resident care within LTC homes, including mealtimes. Limited research has been conducted on how mealtimes in LTC were affected during the pandemic from staff perspectives. Objective: To understand the experiences of LTC staff on providing mealtimes during the pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 staff involved with mealtimes between February and April 2021. Transcripts were analysed using interpretive description. Findings: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) recognizing the influence of homes’ contextual factors. Home size, availability of resources, staffing levels and resident care needs influenced mealtime practices during the pandemic; (2) perceiving a compromised mealtime experience for residents and staff. Staff were frustrated and described residents as being dissatisfied with mealtime and pandemic-initiated practices as they were task-focused and socially isolating and (3) prioritizing mealtimes while trying to stay afloat. An ‘all hands-on deck’ approach, maintaining connections and being adaptive were strategies identified to mitigate the negative impact of the mandates on mealtimes during the pandemic. Limitations: Perspectives were primarily from nutrition and food service personnel. Implications: Overly restrictive public health measures resulted in mealtime practices that prioritized tasks and safety over residents’ quality of life. Learning from this pandemic experience, homes can protect the relational mealtime experience for residents by fostering teamwork, open and frequent communication and being flexible and adaptive.","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135263957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the Challenges Faced by Health Care Professionals Working with People Living with Dementia Amid COVID-19 Pandemic in the English West Midlands Region","authors":"M. Ekpenyong, Farai Pfende, M. Nyashanu","doi":"10.31389/jltc.180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.180","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"306 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84561806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Victoria Barber-Fleming, Mala Mann, Gillian Mead, Aoife Gleeson
Context: Population ageing and projections that more people will die in care homes demand that care home staff are prepared for advance care planning (ACP). This is an update of a prior review, published in 2021, of ACP education interventions for healthcare professionals in care homes. Objective: We sought to address the questions: (1) What ACP education interventions exist for care home staff? and (2) How effective are these interventions? Method: The review adheres to PRISMA; PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022337865). Original research evaluating ACP education for care home staff, reporting any measurable outcome of effectiveness, was included. Extensive literature searches were performed from March 2018 to June 2022. The results were reported by narrative synthesis. Findings: We identified 10 studies (310 care homes), from the UK, Belgium, Norway and Canada. Major sources of heterogeneity between studies include intervention design, target population and outcome measure. More recent interventions target the wider multi-disciplinary team. There is a trend towards the adoption of more resident/family and staff-related outcomes. There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of ACP education interventions. Limitations: Heterogeneity of the primary studies did not allow for meta-analysis. Implications: There is still insufficient data to determine the effectiveness of ACP education interventions for care home staff. Future researchers should aim to agree on outcomes that are specific to ACP education interventions for care home staff and develop standardised, validated outcome measures. Study design should consider an intervention’s ‘theory of change’ when considering outcomes.
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Advance Care Planning (ACP) Training for Care Home Staff: An Updated Systematic Review","authors":"Victoria Barber-Fleming, Mala Mann, Gillian Mead, Aoife Gleeson","doi":"10.31389/jltc.225","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.225","url":null,"abstract":"Context: Population ageing and projections that more people will die in care homes demand that care home staff are prepared for advance care planning (ACP). This is an update of a prior review, published in 2021, of ACP education interventions for healthcare professionals in care homes. Objective: We sought to address the questions: (1) What ACP education interventions exist for care home staff? and (2) How effective are these interventions? Method: The review adheres to PRISMA; PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022337865). Original research evaluating ACP education for care home staff, reporting any measurable outcome of effectiveness, was included. Extensive literature searches were performed from March 2018 to June 2022. The results were reported by narrative synthesis. Findings: We identified 10 studies (310 care homes), from the UK, Belgium, Norway and Canada. Major sources of heterogeneity between studies include intervention design, target population and outcome measure. More recent interventions target the wider multi-disciplinary team. There is a trend towards the adoption of more resident/family and staff-related outcomes. There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of ACP education interventions. Limitations: Heterogeneity of the primary studies did not allow for meta-analysis. Implications: There is still insufficient data to determine the effectiveness of ACP education interventions for care home staff. Future researchers should aim to agree on outcomes that are specific to ACP education interventions for care home staff and develop standardised, validated outcome measures. Study design should consider an intervention’s ‘theory of change’ when considering outcomes.","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135318449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Patel, Liz Graham, A. Forster, Ikhlaq Jacob, A. Ellwood
{"title":"Researchers’ Experiences of the Challenges of Conducting Two Randomised Controlled Trials in Care Homes","authors":"I. Patel, Liz Graham, A. Forster, Ikhlaq Jacob, A. Ellwood","doi":"10.31389/jltc.187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.187","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80313824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Context: The impacts of Covid-19 pandemic conditions in Canada’s long-term residential care (LTRC) sector have demonstrated that future pandemic preparedness necessitates not only recovery but deeper sectoral transformation of longstanding vulnerabilities. Improving workforce mental health and resilience is central to these transformative efforts. Objective: This study presents a content analysis of staff recommendations for pandemic preparedness and employee mental health in LTRC. Methods: Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with 50 LTRC staff members from 12 organizations. The interviews aimed to gain insights into supporting worker mental health in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Participant responses to a question seeking recommendations for future pandemic preparedness were extracted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Our findings encompass staff recommendations organized into seven categories: 1) Risk reduction and compensation, 2) Staffing reappraisal, 3) Opportunities for relief, 4) Spaces to be heard, 5) Improved communication, 6) Cultivating responsive leadership, and 7) Redefining public accountability. Limitations: The data primarily relied on interviews with LTRC workers from western Canada. Implications: Recommendations are situated within existing policy and research for worker mental health and staffing. We discuss how supporting and listening to LTRC workers can strengthen pandemic preparedness, workforce mental health, and delivery of quality person-centered care. We position the increased presence of worker voices in knowledge generation and policymaking as vital for realizing the sectoral transformations needed in LTRC.
{"title":"Canadian Long-Term Residential Care Staff Recommendations for Pandemic Preparedness and Workforce Mental Health","authors":"Nick Boettcher, Sofia Celis, Bonnie Lashewicz","doi":"10.31389/jltc.177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.177","url":null,"abstract":"Context: The impacts of Covid-19 pandemic conditions in Canada’s long-term residential care (LTRC) sector have demonstrated that future pandemic preparedness necessitates not only recovery but deeper sectoral transformation of longstanding vulnerabilities. Improving workforce mental health and resilience is central to these transformative efforts. Objective: This study presents a content analysis of staff recommendations for pandemic preparedness and employee mental health in LTRC. Methods: Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with 50 LTRC staff members from 12 organizations. The interviews aimed to gain insights into supporting worker mental health in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Participant responses to a question seeking recommendations for future pandemic preparedness were extracted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Our findings encompass staff recommendations organized into seven categories: 1) Risk reduction and compensation, 2) Staffing reappraisal, 3) Opportunities for relief, 4) Spaces to be heard, 5) Improved communication, 6) Cultivating responsive leadership, and 7) Redefining public accountability. Limitations: The data primarily relied on interviews with LTRC workers from western Canada. Implications: Recommendations are situated within existing policy and research for worker mental health and staffing. We discuss how supporting and listening to LTRC workers can strengthen pandemic preparedness, workforce mental health, and delivery of quality person-centered care. We position the increased presence of worker voices in knowledge generation and policymaking as vital for realizing the sectoral transformations needed in LTRC.","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135446296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Soheilipour, Katrina Jang, B. de Vries, Helen Kwan, G. Gutman
{"title":"A Confluence of Cultures: Advance Care Planning in Long-Term Care Settings","authors":"S. Soheilipour, Katrina Jang, B. de Vries, Helen Kwan, G. Gutman","doi":"10.31389/jltc.203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.203","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78446921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stacey E Rand, Grace Collins, Wenjing Zhang, A. Milne, B. Silarova
Context: Social care outcomes (the effect of services on the quality of life of people with support needs and unpaid carers) have been proposed as a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Outcomes have also been proposed as a way of reconceptualising ‘needs’ that have applications in needs assessment, care planning, evaluation and care practice. Objectives: The study aimed to provide insights into social care professionals’ experiences and views on the collection and application of outcomes data in practice and what they believe are the benefits, challenges and barriers to implementation. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 25 social care professionals in England and analysed using a framework approach. Findings: Participants reported perceived benefits of using outcomes data, especially to focus effort on improving the well-being of people with support needs and carers. Perceived challenges include requirements for data collection set by funders/ commissioners, the volume of data collected, difficulties in separating non-service-related influences on outcomes and the format of collection. Participants felt a more flexible approach might facilitate more meaningful conversations, rather than a ‘tick-box’ exercise. Limitations: The study sample was purposive, based on established connections. It only included professionals from London and South East and Central England. Implications: Although outcomes are perceived as important in helping to improve people’s lives, social care professionals identified a number of challenges. Further
{"title":"Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England","authors":"Stacey E Rand, Grace Collins, Wenjing Zhang, A. Milne, B. Silarova","doi":"10.31389/jltc.169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.169","url":null,"abstract":"Context: Social care outcomes (the effect of services on the quality of life of people with support needs and unpaid carers) have been proposed as a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Outcomes have also been proposed as a way of reconceptualising ‘needs’ that have applications in needs assessment, care planning, evaluation and care practice. Objectives: The study aimed to provide insights into social care professionals’ experiences and views on the collection and application of outcomes data in practice and what they believe are the benefits, challenges and barriers to implementation. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 25 social care professionals in England and analysed using a framework approach. Findings: Participants reported perceived benefits of using outcomes data, especially to focus effort on improving the well-being of people with support needs and carers. Perceived challenges include requirements for data collection set by funders/ commissioners, the volume of data collected, difficulties in separating non-service-related influences on outcomes and the format of collection. Participants felt a more flexible approach might facilitate more meaningful conversations, rather than a ‘tick-box’ exercise. Limitations: The study sample was purposive, based on established connections. It only included professionals from London and South East and Central England. Implications: Although outcomes are perceived as important in helping to improve people’s lives, social care professionals identified a number of challenges. Further","PeriodicalId":73807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of long-term care","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87256997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}