Table 1

Descriptions of the projects and their interventions

Interventions initiated across QI projectsWhyWhat (materials)What (procedure)Who providedHowWhere
PEACH:
Multidisciplinary (MDT) review meetings for care home residents at risk of deterioration		MDT review meetings to identify and review residents at risk of deterioration.Triage tool developed with care home staff and used to enable care home staff to describe concerns about residents in a structured way.Care home staff complete triage tool for residents selected at risk of deterioration. Completed triage tool was reviewed by dementia outreach and care home specialist nurse with access to NHS records. Multidisciplinary team members met at the care home to discuss resident, and the team implement care plan.Care home staff, dementia outreach and care home nurse specialist, GP, voluntary sector representative.Face-to-face group meeting.Care home.
PEACH:
Dietician-led nutrition support to care homes		Malnutrition and undernutrition are prevalent in care homes, cause morbidity and are treatable.Training materials for care home staff around nutrition, diabetes, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and an information pack containing a food diary, MUST protocol and homemade recipes for fortified drinks, high calorie snacks and finger foods.A dietitian visited care homes to build relationships with staff and identified specific training needs. Dietician, GP and care home staff carried out dietetic reviews on residents with high MUST scores (based on assessments performed by care home staff) and dietetic care plans developed.
Care home staff training, dietitian and GP.Face-to-face meetings at homes. Care plans were made available using existing function on GP computer system.Care home and GP practice.
EHCH: Red BagShorten hospital stays using a ‘Red Bag’ which contained items designed to improve communication between care home staff, paramedics and hospital staff.Each Red Bag contained key paperwork, medication and personal belongings (eg, slippers, dentures and clothes) needed when admitted to hospital.Care home staff provided paramedic staff with the Red Bag. The Red Bag travelled with the resident to the hospital and stayed with them throughout their hospital stay.Each Red Bag was prepared by care home staff, and paramedic and hospital staff ensured the Red Bag travelled with the resident.Paramedic and hospital staff had access to key information, medications and other items needed throughout the residents’ hospital stay.Care home and hospital.
EHCH: TelemedicineTo reduce number of 999 calls and provide advice to care home staff and residents using a teleconferencing service.Teleconferencing equipment.Health and social care teams were linked through a single point of access, and care plans and protocols were shared with these teams.GP in-hours services, GP extended-access services, GP out-of-hours services,
NHS 111
rapid-response health and care teams and the local ambulance service.		Telemedicine technology was used to exchange decision-making information between health and social care professionals and residents.Phone calls and video-conference.
Safer Care Homes:
Pimp My Zimmer		Walking aids were personalised to help residents recognise and use their own walking aid.Decorative materials were used to personalise each resident’s walking aid.Care home organisations purchased decorative craft materials that could suitably attach to a walking aid, and residents were involved in decorating their walking aids.
Care home staff.Walking aids were decorated with the resident, choosing decorative material which matched their interests and preferences.Resident used walking aid in all locations of care home.
Safer Care Homes:
Floor Sensor Mat		To prevent falls through alerting care home staff to the whereabouts of residents.Floor pressure sensor mat.When a resident stepped onto the floor an alarm alerted care home staff to provide assistance to reduce the risk of the resident falling, particularly those residents attempting to walk without aids.Care home staff.The floor pressure sensor mats were placed in bedrooms and positioned next to each resident's bed.Resident bedroom.
Safer Care Homes:
Luminous Loos		Placing luminous lights on toilets to prevent falls when residents used the bathroom in the dark.Battery-powered lights placed on toilets.Care home staff identified residents who need this intervention and put the battery-powered light strips in place.Care home staffThe luminous light stripes activated when movement is detected in the bathroom.Resident bathroom.

  • NHS, National Health Service; QI, quality improvement.