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Entry one: striving for best practice in professional assessment
1Western Domiciliary Care and Rehabilitation Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Summary
Professional assessment models for home-based care can empower frail elders. Carer advocacy significantly increases service access, but assessments must focus on needs, not gatekeeping.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Social Work
Background:
- Home-based care services are crucial for frail and disabled elders.
- Traditional assessment models can lead to multiple assessments and act as gatekeeping mechanisms.
- There is a need for efficient and effective assessment practices in home care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a best practice model for professional assessment in home-based care.
- To evaluate an innovative assessment model aimed at reducing multiple assessments and gatekeeping.
- To understand the role of assessment in ensuring efficient and effective service delivery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from a random sample of 1500 clients from a population of 5000.
- Utilisation of a survey tool administered to assessment staff and key stakeholders.
- Comparative analysis of service delivery for clients with and without carer advocacy.
Main Results:
- Carer advocacy significantly influences the professional assessment process.
- Clients with carers received substantially more services and service time.
- Unmonitored assessments can function as gatekeeping tools, hindering comprehensive need articulation.
Conclusions:
- Professional assessment can empower consumers and should not be used as a gatekeeping tool.
- Assessment models should prioritize comprehensive need articulation for optimal consumer benefit.
- Integrating carer advocacy into assessment processes can enhance service delivery for elders.