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Oxfordshire County Council: support to the early intervention and prevention services for older people and vulnerable adults programme: report on study of care pathways
- Author:
- OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY. Institute of Public Care
- Publisher:
- Oxford Brookes University. Institute of Public Care
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 37p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This project examined the care pathways of older people moving into a care home in order to determine the critical characteristics, circumstances and events which lead to a care home admission. The aim was to identify areas to develop services to prevent or delay care home admission. This study comprised an audit of the files of 115 people admitted to care homes in 2008-2009 in Oxfordshire. Qualitative interviews were also held with 7 older people, 8 of their informal carers and 8 care managers. The older people and carers were asked about the older person’s circumstances prior to entering the care home, including: the previous living arrangements; their health and need for care; the circumstances around the decision to go into care; and whether there were any services or support that could have enabled them to continue living in their own home. The key characteristics identified were the proportion of women (71%), people who live alone (64%), aged 85 and over (58%), with difficulty in walking (56%), urinary incontinence (45%), bowel incontinence (34%), dementia (40%), experiencing a fall in the last 12 months (41%) and admitted from hospital (61%). Some issues were identified that indicate that care home admission may not have been inevitable: the number of people who were not receiving intensive care prior to admission; the limited use and application of specialist services despite the relevance of older people’s conditions; and the lack of earlier follow up to falls and strokes.
A carer's life: implications and considerations for commissioning
- Author:
- OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY. Institute of Public Care
- Publisher:
- Oxford Brookes University. Institute of Public Care
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 11
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This paper discusses the finding of a study on the impact of caring on the quality of life and emotional aspects of carers’ lives. The study looked across adult carer groups to identify common themes that are relevant to carers and commissioners of services. A total of 18 carers, including 15 women and 3 men participated in three focus groups for the study. Three main themes were identified: the scale of the caring role, in terms of the range of tasks and time spent; adopting the role of the skilled helper, resulting in the loss of other rolls and identity; and the hidden care, who becomes more isolated. The paper looks at the implications of the findings for commissioners across four stages of the commissioning cycle: undertaking needs analysis; planning services and support; ensuring good services are delivered; and reviewing and monitoring services. The paper highlights the importance of recognising, valuing carers and supporting carers in their role. (Edited publisher abstract)