Care home study explores lockdown impact on families

Published in News on 7 Jul 2020

We're pleased to be a partner in a study to gauge how lockdown restrictions, such as social distancing and reduced personal contact, have affected the families of care home residents.

A collaborative, cross-institutional project with researchers from the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, the University of the West of Scotland, the University of Strathclyde and Iriss, the study will explore how physical distancing restrictions on families have influenced the quality of care provided for residents, and the creative methods used to encourage positive interaction between care home residents and their loved ones.

Researchers will work with care homes across Scotland to recruit around 50 family carers whose relatives are residents. They will be interviewed and asked to fill out an online survey. Staff in care homes will also be invited to share innovative ways they have managed to communicate with relatives. The findings will inform future policy and practice.

Iriss will lead the steering group managing survey design, interviews and analysis; as well as website design and dissemination to practitioners and policy makers following publication of the findings.

Lead researcher Dr George Palattiyil, Senior Lecturer of Social Work at the University of Edinburgh said:

“An understanding of how to support the health and wellbeing of family caregivers and loved ones supporting older people is significant given the impact the pandemic is having.” 

The project has been awarded £150,000 by the Chief Scientist Office and researchers will engage with Scottish Government policy teams throughout the project.