Background

Scottish care homes are vulnerable to the widespread transmission of COVID-19 and poor outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately high fatality rates among older adults, particularly those with comorbidities.

Care homes provide health and care services for approximately 40,000 residents, of which the majority are elders with complex medical and care needs.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the care homes within Lanarkshire, similar to other local authorities. While there is a plethora of research focusing on the spread of COVID-19 in the general population, research on the unique transmission dynamics and interventions for COVID-19 in care homes is negligible.

Infection control interventions in care homes need to be both effective in containing the spread of COVID-19 and also feasible to implement in this setting which has a dual nature: a healthcare institution and a home.

Research Aims

This research aim to:

• evaluate the effectiveness of a range of interventions strategies in controlling COVID-19 in care homes
• investigate the impact of staff sharing between care homes in Lanarkshire on the inter-facility transmission of COVID-19
• answer emerging questions for care home stakeholders from Lanarkshire

Analysis 1: An evaluation of interventions implemented in care homes early on and an evaluation of additional interventions on top of these, including testing of staff and testing of residents – DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.1369

Analysis 2: An evaluation of visiting policy in care homes as well as cohorting of staff and residents within care home – Manuscript is under review.

The works on the effect of staff sharing and distribution of vaccination are underway.

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