HS&DR Project: NIHR 132541 Protecting older people living in care homes from COVID-19: challenges and solutions to implementing social distancing and isolation.

Project status

Ongoing

Contact

Joanne Fitzpatrick

Institution web page

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/nihr-funds-new-study-into-protecting-older-people-in-care-homes-from-covid-19

Host institution

King's College London

Team members

Dr Joanne Fitzpatrick (King’s College London), Professor Ruth Harris (King’s College London), Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty (King’s College London), Dr Ivanka Ezhova (King’s College London), Professor Shereen Hussein (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Sinead Palmer (PSSRU, University of Kent), Sally Brearley, Dr Richard Adams (Sears Healthcare), Lindsay Rees (Encore Care Homes)

Funding information (if funded)

This project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research Programme (Project reference NIHR132541). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Project 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 the coronavirus. 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 aim of our research is to explore and understand the real-life experiences of implementing social distancing and isolation of residents in care homes for older people from the perspective of residents, families/friends, staff working in and with care homes, and to develop a toolkit of resources for health and care delivery now and to support further outbreaks of the coronavirus.

This 12-month study will be conducted in three phases; a rapid evidence review, in-depth case studies, and toolkit development.

Outputs / Expected Outputs

Throughout and on completion of the project we will share the findings of our research in different ways and with different audiences. The toolkit of resources will share which interventions and strategies for social distancing and isolation for residents work well and which do not. These resources will support decision making about health and care delivery in care homes and help build resilience. Content will be presented in different ways to maximise accessibility and impact and will include a film to narrate the stories of older people, their families/friends and care home staff.