The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether the use of outcome-focused homecare improves the subjective well-being of the familial carers of older people with dementia. It…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether the use of outcome-focused homecare improves the subjective well-being of the familial carers of older people with dementia. It also discusses familial carers’ perception of whether this intervention has improved the well-being of their relative.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study followed the familial carers of 20 service users suffering from dementia over a six-month period. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken at three intervals during the six months. The carers were asked to assess their subjective well-being at the start, middle and end of the study.
Findings
The key findings were that all 20 familial carers expressed an improvement in their subjective well-being and that of their older family member, who appeared more settled as a result of this model of care.
Practical implications
The need to consider the use of outcome-focused care as an intervention strategy for older people living alone in the community. The need to provide supportive environments for the carers of older people with dementia to limit their sense of isolation. The prioritising of outcome-focused care in the most complex and chaotic cases.
Originality/value
This study provides an insight into the effectiveness of outcome-focused homecare with older people experiencing dementia as perceived by their familial carers. Previously, research has established that outcome-focused care increased the subjective well-being of non-dementia sufferers. This study dovetails neatly with this in demonstrating the same effect on dementia sufferers as perceived by their familial carers. Additionally, this study also demonstrated that this model of outcome-focused care also improved the subjective well-being of the familial carers themselves. These finding will help practitioners consider the use of this model of homecare as a potential alternative or a delaying strategy to residential care.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to follow up on a previous quantitative research project which established that outcome‐focussed care appeared to be associated with an increase in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to follow up on a previous quantitative research project which established that outcome‐focussed care appeared to be associated with an increase in the individuals' subjective well‐being. The purpose of this paper is to establish why the intervention enabled this.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilised a qualitative approach to gather the subjective experience of the individual service users. The sample consisted of 20 service users, who were subject of two semi‐structured interviews; one interview at the start of the intervention and one at the six month stage. The data were then analysed under core themes raised by the service user in these interviews. The sample was divided into two, with one group receiving the outcome‐focussed model of care and the other group receiving the traditional time focussed care.
Findings
The research established that service users' subjective well‐being improved due to the ability of outcome‐focussed care to provide consistency, flexibility and most importantly the ability of the service user to form a relationship with the homecare workers providing their care.
Practical implications
This paper will assist professionals to understand why outcome‐focus care has a profound impact upon service users' subjective well‐being as opposed to the existing task focussed care.
Originality/value
This and the previous paper provide an insight into how different processes and models of intervention impact upon the subjective well‐being of socially isolated older people.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to report on a study of outcome‐focused care for older people in one English local authority. The aim of the research is to examine whether altering the delivery…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report on a study of outcome‐focused care for older people in one English local authority. The aim of the research is to examine whether altering the delivery of care to an outcome‐focused model would improve the individual participant's subjective well‐being and save money for the local authority.
Design/methodology/approach
In order for the aim of the research to be established, a pilot study was devised. This was a longitudinal study over 18 months, using a quantitative design. The sample was of 40 service users aged 65 and over whom all had critical and substantial care needs. Half of the sample of service users was receiving the new form of outcome‐focused care and the other half were a comparison group who were receiving care packages according to the traditional form of delivery that could be characterised as a “task‐focused” model. The service users were administered the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing Questionnaire (MYCAW). This questionnaire involves respondents identifying quality of life issues; where they are seeking improvement; and measures change over time in relation to these.
Findings
The research established that there was a greater improvement in subjective well‐being in the group receiving outcome‐focused care, when compared with the comparison group receiving the traditional task‐focused model.
Practical implications
This paper will assist managers in their decision making to implement a more outcome‐focused model of home care with older people.
Originality/value
To use MYCAW in a social care context is an innovative aspect of this study as it has previously been used only in mainstream and complementary medicine. The focus of this paper is to examine the impact of two models of home care delivery for older people, and how these two models impact on the older persons' self‐reported well‐being.