Chana, R, Marshall, P and Harley, C orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-4238 (2016) The role of the Intermediate Care Team in detecting and responding to loneliness in older clients. British Journal of Community Nursing, 21 (6). pp. 292-298. ISSN 1462-4753
Abstract
The Intermediate Care Team (ICT) supports patients in their own homes to manage complex needs. They are ideally placed in the community to identify older adults at risk of loneliness. However, little is known about how ICT professionals perceive, detect, or respond to loneliness in their clients. This study explores ICT professional’s attitudes to loneliness in the context of perceived service priorities and their experiences of managing loneliness in their clients. Eight ICT professionals (n=2 physiotherapists, n=3 occupational therapists, n=3 nurses) took part in semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed thematically using framework analysis, applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour as an interpretive framework. ICT professionals believed loneliness was a significant issue for many of their older clients but was a low priority for ICT services. Study participants believed that loneliness often goes undetected because it is an issue that is difficult to measure objectively. Barriers to managing loneliness included high work-load, unsatisfactory referral systems, and lack of close working with social-care and independent sector services. Introducing brief but reliable loneliness assessments into routine practice, receiving training on detecting and managing loneliness, and improving working relationships with social care and independent sector services were highlighted as strategies that could improve the detection and management of loneliness in ICT clients.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2016, MA Healthcare Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper accepted for publication in British Journal of Community Nursing. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Loneliness, older people, intermediate care team, qualitative research |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 25 May 2016 15:14 |
Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2018 05:50 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2016.21.6.292 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Mark Allen Healthcare |
Identification Number: | 10.12968/bjcn.2016.21.6.292 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:100116 |