NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a ‘Quick Guide’ to help improve health in care homes across England.
The new guide titled ‘Quick Guide: Allied Health Professions enhancing Health in care homes’ is a supporting publication for the AHPs into Action programme. It aims to support AHPs and service leaders to meet the priorities and ambitions for care home residents detailed in the NHS Long Term Plan.
The NHS Long Term Plan details four strategic priorities for community health services, one of which was the roll-out of the Enhancing Health in Care Homes Framework. The ambition includes a focus on nutrition and hydration and provision of support from the right professionals when care home residents have been unwell, including rehabilitation.
Launched at the recent Chief Allied Health Professions Officers Conference, the new guide references the Care Homes Toolkit and details examples of case studies involving occupational therapists.
Julia Scott, RCOT Chief Executive said:
“Occupational therapists alongside other Allied Health Professionals play a key role in making sure residents of care homes receive the best possible care, and the Royal College advised on some of the key areas of the guide. Our recent ‘Care Homes and Equipment’ guide assists occupational therapists with helping to implement the timely provision of equipment and improve the quality of life for residents.
“Improving healthcare in care homes is a vital part of the NHS Long Term Plan and the new guide focuses on the best practice of nutrition and hydration, end of life and dementia care and rehabilitation and reablement. These are areas where occupational therapists play an important role.”
The guide can be found on the NHS England website.