Care homes and their staff  face many challenges in providing safe, person-centred care for people living in care homes. With restrictions placed on visitors to care homes as a result of social distancing, daily news reporting a lack of testing and PPE and a fear of contracting or transmitting the virus  firmly at the forefront of care delivery, it is unsurprising that care homes need support and advice.

Adam Gordon, Professor of Older People – University of Nottingham and Claire Goodman, Professor of Health Care Research – University of Hertfordshire discuss in their blog, produced for The Kings Fund, how facilitating an online community of researchers and care home colleagues played a crucial role in the response to COVID-19. They identify 5 key areas that are essential in assisting care homes to support resident’s well-being now and post the coronavirus pandemic.

Key areas include:

• Rapid access to PPE
• Rapid access to medical advice from GPs and other healthcare professionals
• Rapid access to medicines and palliative care support
• Clear and consistent guidance
• Equal recognition with acute NHS carers

For full blog can be found on The Kings Fund website