Measuring and Improving Care Home Quality
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring and Improving Care Home Quality
IRAS ID
219878
Contact name
Jackie Cassell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study is one of four linked projects, which together aim to explore the factors contributing to care home quality. This particular project is evaluating the impact of community engagement on care home residents’ quality of life. \nThere has not been much research looking at the impact of community engagement on care home residents’ quality of life. However, drawing on the information available, we think that high levels of engagement with the local community will benefit both the staff and residents in the home. We describe community engagement (CE) as a set of activities that involve reaching out to the local community by supporting residents to attend local events, clubs and community hubs or by finding ways to bring the local community into the home itself, by working with volunteers and local organisations. \nWe are inviting the managers of all registered homes in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Medway to complete a survey about how they engage with their local communities (if at all). We will also ask them whether they might be interested in taking part in future research. Using the survey results, we will sort the homes that have expressed an interest in taking part into ‘high CE’ and ‘low CE’ groups (20 homes in each). \nWe are aiming to recruit at least 6 residents in each participating home. Everyone can take part, including those living with dementia. We will measure residents’ care-related quality of life using observations of everyday life in communal areas, as well as interviews with residents, staff and family members. We will also note down the home’s current CQC quality rating and collect information about participating residents’ health and care needs. We will use this information to compare residents’ quality of life in high and low CE homes, controlling for other influencing factors.\n
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0657
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion