What are the perspectives and experiences of Older Adults of existing Integrated Care Services in the Mid-West of Ireland?

Background: In Ireland, substantial investment has been provided by the Health Service Executive in the form of Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for older person to provide timely assessment and intervention to frail older adults. CSTs are one component of an integrated model of care developed by the National Clinical Programme for Older People (NCPOP). CSTs are based within 18 ambulatory care specialist hubs nationally with a primary focus on providing older adults and their families with a single point of access and contact by a specialist multidisciplinary team. To optimise the effectiveness and reach of CSTs, it is important to understand how older adults experience this model of care. This qualitative descriptive study aims to resolve a research gap by exploring older adults’ experiences of Community Specialist Team service provision within the broader Irish healthcare context.

Who is it for? Policy Makers, Health Care Professionals, Older Adults, Stakeholder Groups and Non-Profit Organisations.

Who did you involve and engage with? The topic was identified as a priority by a stakeholder panel of older adults and family caregivers. The study was conceived by an interdisciplinary group of health researchers. Preliminary findings of the qualitative descriptive study will be shared, and discussed with this panel and key implications of the findings and a lay summary of the findings for dissemination to relevant stakeholder groups will be developed with panel members.

What did you do? Please explain the intervention: This research study employed a qualitative design to explore older adults’ experiences and perspectives following intervention with CSTs for older persons. A semi structured topic guide was developed following a review of related literature and findings from a recent qualitive evidence synthesis. The topic guide compromised of 12 open-ended questions. Purposive non-probability sampling was used to recruit 14 older adults who had completed intervention with the CSTs and had personal experience in using the service. Individual semi-structured interviews were completed with each participant in their homes and interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis is currently ongoing using thematic analysis.

What results did you get? What impact did you have? Data analysis is currently on going and refined findings will be presented at the IFIC conference. Preliminary findings indicate that older adults report many positive dimensions of the CST model of care however some access issues limit their engagement with the service. The findings of this study will identify areas for service and care delivery improvements in order for CSTs to meet the needs of older persons.

What is the learning for the international audience? International audience members will be provided with a comprehensive overview of the CST model of care and identified ways to improve the delivery of care to meet the complex needs of older persons.

What are the next steps? Findings from this study will be disseminated to CST services nationally and findings will inform a pilot trial of a domiciliary model of care for older adults attending integrated care hubs.