Guidelines for the closure of care homes for older people: prevalence and content of local government protocols

Abstract

The rise in the number of care home closures in recent years has raised concerns about the way in which residents and their relatives and carers are being affected by such relocation and the way in which it is managed. Currently there is no statutory guidance in England aimed specifically at the way in which care homes close. This paper presents a review of local government guidelines and protocols for the closure of care homes for older people. The objectives of the study were to identify the prevalence of written guidelines and the nature of existing principles and recommendations for good practice. Thirty-three documents were analysed to identify their purpose and scope, the ways in which roles and responsibilities were defined and allocated, and suggestions and recommendations for good practice