Improving the care of frail older people

People in the United Kingdom are living longer and many of them are living with one or more long-term medical condition. So for a significant number, advancing age brings frailty and an increased likelihood of admission into hospital. Currently, the main users of hospitals and of services in the community are older people. Research shows that the quality of interactions and relationships between frail older people and professional caregivers is shaped by the team delivering care and the organisational culture.

This new course has been designed for senior leaders and their deputies who are responsible for the care of frail older people, with the overall aim of improving the quality of care, including the quality of patients’ and relatives’ experiences.

The key objectives of the course are to:

• explore challenges around planning and delivering high-quality care to frail older people
• analyse factors shaping older peoples’ needs and preferences as well as those of their carers
• explore the leadership and management challenges in delivering high-quality care to frail older people 
• support attendees in developing strategies to support the delivery of high-quality care for older people.

Content

The course uses a mixture of lectures from experts and leaders, case study analysis and discussion.

• Day one will review the current quality of care and care experiences of frail older people, analyse their care needs, examine the challenges of planning and delivering high-quality care and analyse the risks to quality.
• Day two will then concentrate on strengthening the design of systems for providing high-quality care to this growing population and the challenges of connecting leadership to frontline care.

You will be expected to read selected course materials.
 
On this course you will:

• identify desired outcomes for the acute care of frail older people
• identify the needs and preferences of frail older people and their carers
• analyse the factors shaping the delivery of care to this group of patients
• develop care strategies with clear goals and implementation plans
• explore the leadership and management challenges in delivering high-quality care.

This one-and-a-half day course includes a group dinner at the end of day one.

Guest speakers

• Prof Jill Maben, Director of National Nursing Research Unit, King's College London
• Prof David Oliver, National Clinical Director for Older People, Department of Health
• Ruth Poole, Group Commercial Director, Healthcare at Home Ltd