Achieving closure? Improving outcomes when care homes close

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Achieving closure? Improving outcomes when care homes close

• IRAS ID

  297258

• Contact name

  Jon Glasby

• Contact email

  j.glasby@bham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  We all want to be cared for with dignity when we are older, and we want the same for our families. Being looked after in a care home is expensive, and we have high expectations of the care delivered. But due to increasing pressures, more and more homes are closing. This can affect the wellbeing of people in care homes and the people that work there. Despite this, there is very little research to guide this important process.

  If care homes have to close (perhaps because of a financial problem, a problem with the building or due to poor care), we want this to be well managed, so that older people are supported, families are reassured, and care staff are helped to find new work and stay in care roles. While we’ve done some initial work in Birmingham, we want to understand more about what happens when care home close and what works best by:

  - Asking Directors of Adult Social Services to complete a survey, providing information about what is happening across England and how they support older people at such potentially stressful times
  - Working in four different areas to explore local closure processes, talking to older people, families, care staff and social workers about their experiences and what would improve these
  - Collecting data on what happens to older people whose homes close to see how their health and wellbeing are affected over time
  - Exploring what happens to low-paid care staff after closures and the impact this has on the care they give and their financial security/future work
  - Exploring the cost implications for residents, family members, staff and wider society

  We will make a difference by:

  - Producing a good practice guide/sending this to every health/social care leader in the country
  - Producing a free training video for care staff
  - Producing guidance for older people/families

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/SC/0165

• Date of REC Opinion

  24 May 2021

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion