What happens when care homes close? A review of the literature

Abstract

In a fraught fiscal and post-pandemic context, English adult social care is likely to see further care home closures. To make sure that closures minimise distress and potentially negative outcomes for residents, this article reports findings from an analytical narrative review of the existing research evidence about the process and outcome of such closures in the UK. Despite the importance of these issues, there is little underpinning research to draw on when establishing good practice, with particular gaps in terms of understanding outcomes for older people, the experience of care staff, economic evidence and the perspectives of social care leaders.

A Scoping Review of the Costs, Consequences, and Wider Impacts of Residential Care Home Closures in a UK Context

“…Te tangible costs include the equipment, resources, and staf that are required to close a care home [18]. Intangible costs are defned as costs that can be identifed but cannot be quantifed or easily estimated and relate to changes in health status brought about by public service interventions (in this case, a care home closing) [19]. Tis is part of a broader study into how best to manage care home closures, seeking to estimate costs, improve outcomes, and minimise risks for all those involved.…”

“…Tis is part of a broader study into how best to manage care home closures, seeking to estimate costs, improve outcomes, and minimise risks for all those involved. As part of the overall project, a separate review explored evidence on outcomes from a non-economics perspective and with particular attention to whose voices are heard/ unheard during the closure process [19]. Te aim of this scoping review was therefore to identify and synthesise evidence both from the academic and grey literature (guidance documents) relating to the costs, consequences, causes, and processes of care home closures for future use in economic analysis (modelling).…”