OPTIMAL: Better health for care homes V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OPTIMAL NHS service delivery to care homes: a realist evaluation of the features and mechanisms that support effective working for the continuing care of older people in residential settings.
IRAS ID
141286
Contact name
Claire Goodman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Research summary
Older people resident in care homes have complex health and social care needs and rely on primary health services for access to medical care. Research shows that NHS service provision to care homes is variable and care is less than optimal. NHS initiatives to improve service delivery to care homes can improve service delivery but little is known about their impact over time. This study argues that there will never be a single model of NHS service delivery to care homes, but that it is important to understand the features that contribute to effective working. This realist inquiry approach will establish what features of NHS work with care homes are associated with positive outcomes in 5 areas (hospital admission, out of hours use, medication use, user satisfaction, costs). In phase one we looked at the range of health services provided to care homes, the research on effective health care and talked to a range of organisations that work with and for care homes. This information was combined to highlight the ways that NHS services work with care homes and which features promote effective working. In phase two we will identify health services in three Clinical Commissioning Group areas that work with care homes in these ways. We will test their impact on the five areas of interest by tracking the health and services received by residents in 12 care homes for twelve months. Monthly resident data will be collected to make comparisons between the case study sites and their resource use, to build an understanding of effective care. This will highlight the key features of service delivery which have worked, for whom, in what context and at what cost. Findings from the study will inform commissioners how best to provide services to care homes in the future.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
13/IEC08/0048
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion