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Supporting care transitions for older people: a practice-based qualitative study in England

Zhang, Wenjing, Greig, Julia, Towers, Ann-Marie, Saloniki, Eirini-Christina, Darton, Robin (2025) Supporting care transitions for older people: a practice-based qualitative study in England. British Journal of Social Work, . Article Number bcaf041. ISSN 0045-3102. E-ISSN 1468-263X. (doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcaf041) (KAR id:108724)

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https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaf041

Abstract

Care transitions in later life are challenging for older people and their carers. Social care practitioners, including social workers and other professionals, play a significant role in supporting these transitions, such as hospital discharges to care homes and moves between settings, but often face difficulties in providing effective support. This qualitative study explores the challenges experienced by older people, their carers and social care practitioners during transitions, and examines ways to improve transition-related practice. It involved semi-structured interviews with older people who have experienced or are planning to move (n = 6), family/friend carers (n = 11) and social care practitioners (n = 10). Using inductive data-driven thematic analysis, the study identified four themes: (1) unmet practical and emotional needs for older people and their carers, notably in decision-making; (2) barriers to effective practice, including communication, sourcing funding, and system challenges, such as a fragmented health and social care system; (3) strategies to improve practice, including person-centred strength-focused approaches, better communication and information access, and understanding diverse care settings; and (4) the importance of supporting practitioners. This study emphasizes the need to equip social care practitioners with necessary tools, training, and systemic support to facilitate proactive decision-making, and improve care transitions and outcomes for older people.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/bjsw/bcaf041
Additional information: For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission
Uncontrolled keywords: co-production; elderly; long-term care; practice; professional; transition
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV59 Institutional care/home care
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: National Institute for Health Research (https://ror.org/0187kwz08)
NIHR School for Social Care Research (https://ror.org/03q7vwk42)
Depositing User: Wenjing Zhang
Date Deposited: 11 Feb 2025 12:00 UTC
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2025 03:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108724 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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