Author:
Burton Jennifer Kirsty,Drummond Maria,Gallacher Katie I,Quinn Terence J
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The serious outcomes of outbreaks of COVID-19 in care homes have been described internationally. The experiences of professionals working through outbreaks has received less attention, missing opportunities to acknowledge and learn lessons. Our aim was to explore the experiences of care home staff in Scotland of managing COVID-19 within their homes to help inform understanding and future practice.
Methods
From April to August 2022, 34 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with care home staff working in homes which experienced an outbreak(s) of COVID-19. Reflexive thematic methods were used to analyse verbatim deidentified transcripts.
Findings
There was no singular experience of COVID-19 outbreaks within care homes. We identified four broad groupings of homes with outbreaks (significant outbreaks, managed outbreaks, outbreaks in remote/rural homes & outbreaks in homes supporting younger adults), with overlaps in timing and severity and variation in the support received and impact. The national response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fundamental change to care home relationships. Staff responded by adaptation in uncertainty. However, they were challenged by emerging inequalities influencing residents’ care. There were tensions between staff experience and evolving external approaches to regulation and oversight. All this change resulted in psychological impacts on staff. However, there was also widespread evidence of compassionate leadership and teamwork in their responses. Effective sources of support were underpinned by respectful relationships and continuity, tailored to individual contexts.
Conclusions
The lived experiences of care home staff during the COVID-19 pandemic provide valuable insights applicable beyond the pandemic context. This includes: recognition of the specialism, complexity and diversity of care home practice; the value afforded by embedding genuine representation and involvement in planning, policy-making and research; the need for individualising to people in their contexts and the value of fostering respectful relationships across professional groups to support residents.
Funder
Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Reference61 articles.
1. Salcher-Konrad M, Jhass A, Naci H, Tan M, El-Tawil Y, Comas-Herrera A. COVID-19 related mortality and spread of disease in long-term care: first findings from a living systematic review of emerging evidence. medRxiv. 2020:2020.06.09.20125237.
2. Aalto UL, Pitkälä KH, Andersen-Ranberg K, Bonin-Guillaume S, Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Eriksdotter M, et al. COVID-19 pandemic and mortality in nursing homes across USA and Europe up to October 2021. Eur Geriatr Med. 2022;13(3):705–9.
3. Spilsbury K, Devi R, Daffu-O’Reilly A, Griffiths A, Haunch K, Jones L et al. LESS COVID-19 - Learning by Experience and Supporting the Care Home Sector during the COVID-19 pandemic: key lessons learnt, so far, by frontline care home and NHS staff. 2020 [cited 2023 8th February]. Available from: https://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LESS-COVID-19-v2.pdf.
4. Devi R, Daffu-O’Reilly A, Haunch K, Griffiths A, Jones L, Meyer J, et al. A qualitative exploration of the clinical presentation, trajectory, management and recovery of COVID-19 in older people: learning from frontline staff experiences. Health Soc Care Community. 2022;30(6):e5223–e33.
5. Daly M, León M, Pfau-Effinger B, Ranci C, Rostgaard T. COVID-19 and policies for care homes in the first wave of the pandemic in european welfare states: too little, too late? J Eur Social Policy. 2022;32(1):48–59.
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献