SEeking AnsweRs for Care Homes during the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID SEARCH)
View/ Open
Author
Spilsbury , Karen
Devi, Reena
Griffiths, Alys
Astle , Anita
Goodman, Claire
Gordon, Adam L
Hanratty , Barbara
Hodkinson , Peter
Marshall , Fiona
Meyer, Julienne
Thompson , Carl
Attention
2299/23431
Abstract
The care and support of older people residing in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic has created new and unanticipated uncertainties for staff. In this short report, we present our analyses of the uncertainties of care home managers and staff expressed in a self-formed closed WhatsApp™ discussion group during the first stages of the pandemic in the UK. We categorised their wide-ranging questions to understand what information would address these uncertainties and provide support. We have been able to demonstrate that almost one-third of these uncertainties could have been tackled immediately through timely, responsive and unambiguous fact-based guidance. The other uncertainties require appraisal, synthesis and summary of existing evidence, commissioning or provision of a sector- informed research agenda for the medium- to longer-term. The questions represent wider internationally relevant care home pandemic related uncertainties.