Quality of care: testing some measures in homes for elderly people

In this national study of 17 residential homes, 309 residents were interviewed, 264 members of staff completed an anonymous survey, and 228 relatives responded to a postal questionnaire. The data were collected between January andSeptember 1995. The aim of the study was to suggest promising measures of quality of care, looking particularly at depression as a possible indicator. It also served as a follow-up study of the Caring in Homes Initiative, although its timing ruled out evaluation of the impact of this development programme, because changes occurred in the homes before this study began. No strict definition of quality was adopted a priori, but a pragmatic approach was taken, addressing the perspectives of residents, health and social care professionals, home staff, managers, and relatives

Residential care for elderly people: policy implications from an exploratory study

The Association of Directors of Social Services, in response to the Burgner review, has called for joint health and local-authority inspection of residential homes (Community Care, 8.1.97, p. 1). Yet there is little agreement about what constitutes good residential care (Gibbs and Sinclair, 1992). Without such information, we cannot make valid comparisons between homes or set meaningful standards. The study described below tested a wide range of possible measures of quality of care. It adopted an eclectic approach, including the perspectives of residents, health and social care professionals, home staff, managers, and relatives. Full details of the instruments used are given in the final report, which is available from the Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent at Canterbury, CT2 7NF, as Discussion Paper 1245

Occupational therapy led health promotion for older people : feasibility of the Lifestyle Matters Programme

The aim of this feasibility study was to see if an occupation-based health-promoting intervention for community-living older people could be delivered successfully and also to provide some information to guide a future trial of clinical effectiveness. The participants’ ages ranged from 60 to 92 years. Twenty-eight participants commenced the 8-month programme and 26 completed it; they have continued to meet independently following facilitator withdrawal. The participants were interviewed qualitatively before and after the 8-month programme. Additionally, pre-programme and post-programme measurements of cognition, depression, functional dependency and quality of life were conducted with each participant before and after the intervention. The post-intervention interviews illustrated the individualised benefits experienced by the participants, with greater self-efficacy being a significant theme. A comparison of the pre-intervention and post-intervention scores on the quantitative measures showed an upward trend on all dimensions of quality of life. The measurement of cognition, depression and dependency proved useful for screening purposes and for identifying individuals at risk, but not as an outcome measure. The delivery of the programme was feasible and its benefit to participants was observed, but there is a need for further research to test the intervention rigorously and to explore applicability in a range of settings

Towards quality care: Outcomes for older people in care homes

© Personal Social Services Research Unit, 2004. This unique evaluation of the outcomes of residential and nursing home care for older people identifies the factors determining the quality of life of older people who have moved into care homes. It examines the relationship between older people's psychological well-being and the kinds of care received in residential homes. The volume draws on a study of UK care homes, interviewing new entrants soon after admission and then on two further occasions, to ascertain their experience of care and their quality of life. Interviews were also undertaken with care staff and their managers, and the care environment of each home was assessed. The authors provide valuable evidence of the factors which can influence older people's well-being on entering a care home and how they adjust either positively or not to their new surroundings. The volume offers clear pointers towards ways to improve quality of residential and nursing home care