Protecting older people living in care homes from COVID-19. [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Protecting older people living in care homes from COVID-19: challenges and solutions to implementing social distancing and isolation.
IRAS ID
291728
Contact name
Joanne M Fitzpatrick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Older people living in care homes often have complex needs and are at high risk of poor health outcomes and mortality especially if they contract COVID-19. To protect older people from the coronavirus, care homes use measures such as social distancing and isolating of residents. The care home sector has stated that implementing social distancing and isolation when caring for residents is a significant challenge. Currently, we do not have a good understanding of this challenge and how best to address it.
The study aims to explore and understand the real-life experiences of implementing social distancing and isolation for older people living in care homes from the perspective of residents, their families/friends, and staff, and to develop a toolkit of resources for health and care delivery now and to support further outbreaks of the coronavirus.
This tripartite 12-month study involves a rapid evidence review (Phase 1), in-depth case studies (Phase 2), and toolkit development (Phase 3).
Phase 1: We will conduct a rapid review of evidence to collate knowledge on the mechanisms and measures used by care homes and long-term facilities previously to socially distance and isolate older people or control the spread of other infectious and contagious diseases.
Phase 2:
a) In six care homes in England we will conduct individual remote qualitative interviews with purposively selected care home staff, residents, and their families/friends that will be video- and audio-recorded with permission. We will gather local policies and protocols related to managing social distancing and isolation of residents, as well as routinely collected care home information such as resident occupancy, staffing, and COVID-19 infection rates to help us understand as fully as possible contextual factors.
b) We will conduct a focus group(s) with external stakeholders who have knowledge and expertise at a wider level relevant to the pandemic for the care home sector, e.g. local authority providers, clinical commissioning groups, hospital discharge teams, representative bodies for care home providers.
Phase 3: We will synthesise the findings from phases 1 and 2 to develop a toolkit of evidence-informed guidance and resources for residents, families/friends, and care homes.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0318
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion