The little things are big: evaluation of a compassionate community approach for promoting the health of vulnerable persons

Abstract

Background Vulnerable persons are individuals whose life situations create or exacerbate vulnerabilities, such as low income, housing insecurity and social isolation. Vulnerable people often receive a patchwork of health and social care services that does not appropriately address their needs. The cost of health and social care services escalate when these individuals live without appropriate supports. Compassionate Communities apply a population health theory of practice wherein citizens are mobilized along with health and social care supports to holistically address the needs of persons experiencing vulnerabilities. Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a compassionate community intervention for vulnerable persons in Windsor Ontario, Canada. Methods This applied qualitative study was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. We collected and analyzed focus group and interview data from 16 program stakeholders: eight program clients, three program coordinators, two case managers from the regional health authority, one administrator from a partnering community program, and two nursing student volunteers in March through June 2018. An iterative analytic process was applied to understand what aspects of the program work where and why. Results The findings suggest that the program acts as a safety net that supports people who are falling through the cracks of the formal care system. The ‘little things’ often had the biggest impact on client well-being and care delivery. The big and little things were achieved through three key processes: taking time, advocating for services and resources, and empowering clients to set personal health goals and make authentic community connections. Conclusion Compassionate Communities can address the holistic, personalized, and client-centred needs of people experiencing homelessness and/or low income and social isolation. Volunteers are often untapped health and social care capital that can be mobilized to promote the health of vulnerable persons. Student volunteers may benefit from experiencing and responding to the needs of a community’s most vulnerable members.

The Compassionate Communities Connectors model for end-of-life care: implementation and evaluation

“…This research builds upon the research describing the links between informal and formal care 36 , 42 by examining the impact of this relationship from multiple perspectives and supports the growing body of international research and evaluation reporting the outcomes of compassionate communities. 6 , 7 …”

“…This research builds upon the research describing the links between informal and formal care 36,42 by examining the impact of this relationship from multiple perspectives and supports the growing body of international research and evaluation reporting the outcomes of compassionate communities. 6,7 When estimating the intervention impact on the social wellbeing of families (Figure 6), it is interesting to highlight that the Connectors seemed to have underestimated the impact of their work in all five domains, while the families have perceived benefits that were greater than the Connectors' ratings. This finding is consistent with previous research that found that informal care networks tend to underestimate the impact of their support to carers.…”

“…A number of public health programmes have developed new models of volunteering and fresh understandings of the roles that volunteers and community members may have in supporting palliative care services. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Community development strategies build upon the current skills of community members and aim to reduce social isolation by enhancing and supplementing people's existing social networks. Connector is thus a useful description for this volunteer role, as the volunteers' focus is upon enhancing or re-connecting relationships within the dying persons' social networks, recruiting further contributors to those networks, and improving communication between all involved in providing care.…”

Vulnerability through the Eyes of People Attended by a Portuguese Community-Based Association: A Thematic Analysis

“…According to Guignon [ 44 ], one can only feel authentic in a world that values unique abilities, embraces variety, provides equal opportunity, and values criticism and controversial views; a world that ensures there are no restrictions to free expression. Although some individuals feel stigmatized by society, they do not retaliate in the same way, displaying a compassionate concern for others [ 45 ].…”

Curricular Interventions in Medical Schools: Maximizing Community Engagement Through Communities of Practice

“…41 Lack of access to care and lack of trained clinical staff to treat patients with compassion are some of the gaps identified in the care provided to these populations. 42 The unmet health needs of vulnerable populations warrants foundational knowledge acquisition by students through participation in specifically designed experiential community components in the medical education curriculum 43 that include community outreach and health education programs. 40 The purpose of this article was to review the various CoP-led activities at NCMEDR with implications for developing a curricular framework and processes for addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.…”