Improvement Academy: Improving outcomes for residents of care homes (May 2016)

Summary

This evidence briefing from the Improvement Academy states what providers of care homes and commissioners of older peoples services should do to improve outcomes.

Content

Key messages

Providers of care in care homes should:

• offer staff training regarding recognition of cognitive states including delirium, supporting meaningful activity, end of life care
• have clear processes in place for access to healthcare
• provide information regarding dementia diagnosis and prognosis
• ensure advance care planning takes place
• offer opportunities to take part in meaningful activity.

Commissioners of old peoples’ services should:

• support the delivery of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)
• ensure broad involvement of stakeholders, including care home providers and patients or representatives to ensure services are tailored
• ensure service specifications include interventions such as cognitive reframing
• ensure services are available and coordinated in relation to end of life care
• ensure stable leadership and clear strategy of overall system
• use of specific models of care can have benefit
• do not neglect long term population
• strategies to support healthy ageing and prevent increasing disease burden
• support the development of relationships between care homes and service providers, and ensure clear lines of responsibility
• commission targeted training for staff
• ensure evaluation and monitoring is fed back for continuous improvement.