This project explored the experiences of care home staff using video conferencing to communicate with health and social care colleagues during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Summary
Care homes tend to house older and frailer people than in the general population, offering 24/7 residential care when a person can no longer live at home. Care home staff are supported by health and social care professionals to ensure residents receive the care and support they need.
Videoconferencing has been suggested as a method of accessing health and social care provision within care homes that allows faster access to services, reduced hospital admissions and improved cost-effectiveness. Historically, uptake in the use of technology was not widespread in the UK; however, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a rapid uptake in the use of videoconferencing for health and social care provision in care homes.
Health and social care staff reported using technology in this way during the Covid-19 pandemic had a generally positive experience, highlighting the crucial role of care home staff. Research is needed into the experiences of care home staff using videoconferencing during the pandemic to inform the future use of this technology.
Project aims
This project explored the enablers and barriers to using videoconferencing and online tools in a care home to communicate with health and social care professionals.
Project activity
The findings informed the future use of videoconferencing technology in care homes to facilitate communication with health and social care professionals.
- Findings have been published in the Journal of Long term Care
Read our recent publication from this study here.
Who was involved?
Claire Goodman, Krystal Warmoth
University of Hertfordshire
Contact
Chloe Bennett, c.bennett8@herts.ac.uk. University of Hertfordshire
