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A guide to research with care homes

A guide to research with care homes
A guide to research with care homes
Purpose
– A growing older population with complex care needs, including dementia, are living in care homes. It is important to support researchers in conducting ethical and appropriate work in this complex research environment. The purpose of this paper is to discuss key issues in care homes research including examples of best practice. The intention is to inform researchers across disciplines, leading to more sensitive and meaningful care home research practice.

Design/methodology/approach
– Experienced care homes researchers were invited to provide methodological insights and details not already reported in their publications. These have been analysed, creating key themes and linked to project publications.

Findings
– The need for reflexivity was a key finding. In particular, researchers need to: appreciate that the work is complex; see participants as potential research partners; and consider how cognitive and physical frailty of residents, staffing pressures and the unique environments of care homes might impact upon their research. Other challenges include recruitment and consenting people who lack mental capacity.

Research limitations/implications
– As the care homes research landscape continues to develop and grow, there still remains limited reflection and discussion of methodological issues with a need for a “safe space” for researchers to discuss challenges.

Originality/value
– This review is an updated methodological guide for care homes researchers, also highlighting current gaps in the mechanisms for continuing to share best research practice.
1471-7794
186-194
Luff, Rebekah
b12da7ec-5b6b-4928-9993-c0228cf140b5
Laybourne, Anne
9dfbdc97-e391-4cb7-9c25-b33595671015
Ferreira, Zara
8f601e69-633b-4c1a-ba8d-1a96e619bbb7
Meyer, Julienne
c4fc2052-b132-4749-9df3-41f012d7e90f
Luff, Rebekah
b12da7ec-5b6b-4928-9993-c0228cf140b5
Laybourne, Anne
9dfbdc97-e391-4cb7-9c25-b33595671015
Ferreira, Zara
8f601e69-633b-4c1a-ba8d-1a96e619bbb7
Meyer, Julienne
c4fc2052-b132-4749-9df3-41f012d7e90f

Luff, Rebekah, Laybourne, Anne, Ferreira, Zara and Meyer, Julienne (2015) A guide to research with care homes. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 16 (4), 186-194. (doi:10.1108/QAOA-06-2015-0027).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose
– A growing older population with complex care needs, including dementia, are living in care homes. It is important to support researchers in conducting ethical and appropriate work in this complex research environment. The purpose of this paper is to discuss key issues in care homes research including examples of best practice. The intention is to inform researchers across disciplines, leading to more sensitive and meaningful care home research practice.

Design/methodology/approach
– Experienced care homes researchers were invited to provide methodological insights and details not already reported in their publications. These have been analysed, creating key themes and linked to project publications.

Findings
– The need for reflexivity was a key finding. In particular, researchers need to: appreciate that the work is complex; see participants as potential research partners; and consider how cognitive and physical frailty of residents, staffing pressures and the unique environments of care homes might impact upon their research. Other challenges include recruitment and consenting people who lack mental capacity.

Research limitations/implications
– As the care homes research landscape continues to develop and grow, there still remains limited reflection and discussion of methodological issues with a need for a “safe space” for researchers to discuss challenges.

Originality/value
– This review is an updated methodological guide for care homes researchers, also highlighting current gaps in the mechanisms for continuing to share best research practice.

Text
Luff Article for deposit.docx - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Published date: November 2015
Organisations: Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 403639
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/403639
ISSN: 1471-7794
PURE UUID: 7926e868-d8a4-47bb-b30d-9060aa2e788c
ORCID for Rebekah Luff: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7871-0246

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 06 Dec 2016 16:47
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:47

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Contributors

Author: Rebekah Luff ORCID iD
Author: Anne Laybourne
Author: Zara Ferreira
Author: Julienne Meyer

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