COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on care homes, their residents and families, and staff. Over 20,000 care home residents in England have died from COVID-19 to date. Many more have experienced symptoms and distress. Palliative care is an essential component of the pandemic response, but there has been limited examination of palliative and end-of-life care provision in English care homes during COVID-19, or strategies to improve this during subsequent pandemic peaks.

The study aims to examine the response of care homes in England to meet the rapidly increasing need for palliative and end-of-life care for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and make recommendations for policy. The main objectives of the project are:

1. 1.  To describe the response of care homes to palliative and end of life care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the experiences, preparedness and impact on the workforce.
   2.  To explore in-depth the challenges and facilitators to providing palliative and end of life care in care homes during the pandemic.
   3.  To make recommendations for policy and develop guidance that helps to improve and sustain palliative and end of life care during current and future pandemic peaks.

The research is designed for short- and medium-term policy impact, through care home, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), and policy collaboration. An interim analysis will inform short-term policy during winter 2020/2021. Reports will be accompanied by PPI summaries, evidence summaries and guidance for front-line staff. Academic papers will be published as preprints to ensure timely dissemination.