Cover story – advertising feature


Value-based healthcare in residential and nursing care homes


Mary Muir, national clinical consulting manager at Arjo, looks at how a value-based approach to healthcare in the care sector should be defined, and how it can be achieved


Care homes play a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable members of our society, and their importance will continue to grow with our ageing population. In recent years, the healthcare sector has witnessed a paradigm shift in how value is perceived and measured. In this new paradigm, value-based healthcare is defined as the equitable, sustainable, and transparent use of the available resources to achieve better outcomes and experiences for every person.1


Value-based healthcare prioritises


outcomes and cost-effectiveness, ensuring that residents receive high-quality care. This aligns with the CQC Single Assessment Framework that focuses on care that is safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs, and well-led,2


using the Health and


Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) as part of their inspection process.3


The challenge: quality care versus cost efficiency


Long-term care facilities must deliver high-quality care alongside managing costs, meeting CQC standards, and minimising litigation liability. Challenges include a changing resident population, staffing resources, staff knowledge and care skills, equipment provision, and care delivery methods. In many facilities, care roles have potentially become task-oriented rather than person-centred, prioritising completing tasks over improving the health and wellbeing of the resident.4 Value-based healthcare includes


improving resident outcomes while minimising costs, emphasising wellness, and preventing unnecessary


6


Volume 9 Issue 8 September 2024 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Value-based healthcare in residential and


nursing care homes Collaboration and innovation at Care Show Birmingham Fire safety: time for an overhaul


of the importance of identifying effective approaches to behaviour change, sharing best practice and the need for mobility strategies to prevent deconditioning, at scale and speed.9


Identifying residents


at elevated risk for deconditioning is essential, and there are various screening tools10


available to assist in this process.


hospitalisations. In the context of elderly care, an important aspect is to minimise immobility and deconditioning in residents, achieved through personalised care plans, regular physical activity, and social engagement.


Immobility, deconditioning, and associated risks


Residents of all ages are at risk of consequences of immobility. This is particularly true as people get older,5 which can also lead to deconditioning.6 Recognising these consequences has led to an increased focus on appropriately mobilising residents throughout their care, providing an opportunity to prevent functional decline and its implications. Deconditioning refers to the decline in both physical and mental function that can occur due to prolonged inactivity or bed rest following an injury or illness.7


Preventative measures and interventions are vital in managing deconditioning in care home residents. Restorative nursing care, which includes function-focused care, can significantly impact the wellbeing of residents.11


Philosophy of mobility Mobility plays a fundamental role in a resident’s quality of life. Arjo’s Positive 812 and the Mobility Gallery13


support care It is associated


with various physiological effects, including pneumonia, pressure ulcers, constipation, incontinence, depression, and an increased risk of falls. Rehabilitation and physical therapy are essential in addressing deconditioning, focusing on improving joint flexibility, muscle strength, and overall endurance.8


There is increased recognition


facilities in delivering high-quality care to the residents, while reducing the risk of physical overload for caregivers. The Positive 8 philosophy is built on three main tenets – care skills, equipment, and environment. Working with the Positive 8 principles can help to improve clinical benefits for the resident, enhance workflow efficiencies for caregivers, and achieve financial optimisation for the facility. The Mobility Gallery is a communication tool designed to assess a resident’s functional mobility level, ranging from independent to dependent. It outlines the support required for each individual, evaluates the risk of physical overload to caregivers, and recommends appropriate equipment provision to minimise the risk of harm.14


Educating caregivers on best practices www.thecarehomeenvironment.com September 2024


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52