The Importance of Outcome Focused Care

Outcome-focused care is described by Iriss.org as “...putting the person at the centre, identifying what is important in their life, ensuring that everyone is working together to achieve the same purpose of maximising the person's independence and quality of life.”

Outcome-based care is important for several reasons, but ultimately older people receiving care are happier as their overall well-being is being placed at the core of their care, leading to positive outcomes for service users. Putting desired outcomes at the forefront of a care strategy can lead to huge benefits that will not only be evident in the short term but also help secure the future success of caring for residents. 

When someone is looking to move a loved one into a care home or nursing home, the first step will be to contact the local authorities where social workers will carry out a care needs assessment to decipher the best care approach for the individual's needs by actively listening to loved ones. Following this, the local authorities can recommend suitable health and social care services in your desired area. The local authority will also provide information on the potential funding available. If a person's savings, pension or assets are over a certain threshold they may not be eligible for any funding from the local authority. However, if an individual has a primary health need, they may be eligible for Complex Clinical Care, which is when a person's care costs are funded by the NHS in a hospital setting or, following hospital admissions.

Older people who have been assessed as eligible for a place in a care home must have a care plan and support planning established by healthcare providers. Whilst this is usually led by a senior member of the care team, it must be developed in partnership with the resident, their loved ones, their carer/s and the local authority if necessary. 

Care plans should also set out how the individual's wellbeing will be promoted and their assessed needs met within the care home. Creating a person-centred care plan that is focused on the best possible outcomes ensures the care that is delivered by all parties is of high quality and can help improve an individual's overall health and wellbeing.

The Benefits of Outcome-Focused Care

The individual receiving outcome-focused care must be at the heart of any health and social care service. This helps all those involved to keep sight of what is it they're trying to achieve while supporting their own strengths in an empowering way. Benefits of person-centred care include:

Real-Time Care Updates

Healthcare providers can view health and social care delivery in real-time means that those looking after the resident, along with family and the resident can see the progress that is being made.

Proactive Response From Staff

Management and care staff can easily identify strengths and weaknesses when caring for residents. Knowing where to invest time, identifying the exact care to deliver, and taking control of issues before they arise can ensure that everything is being handled in the most effective manner and residents are continually receiving the care they need.

Make Informed Decisions

This type of care for older people ensures residents and their families can make more informed care decisions together. Plans for residents can be developed based on their specific needs with their input setting long term, realistic goals and reviewing treatment outcomes. Residents, their loved ones and the care team can work together as one to achieve the same goal.

Accountability

Person centred care makes a clear distinction between accountability to all involved, to improving the quality of life for older people. Working towards a shared goal and having an understanding of the desired end goal, allows for improvements with internal planning and care execution by all staff involved within the care plan.

Enables Independence 

Showing flexibility, communication and commitment to our residents and their needs allows us to not only build a strong relationship with them but enables residents to feel more empowered and in control of their care arrangement. We support and encourage older people to be as independent as possible and live their best lives within comfort of their own home.

Shared Understanding

A plan that focuses on the desired outcome allows for a shared understanding of needs, like, dislikes and preferences which allows the resident to have greater control of their care.

Prioritises Dignity

Person-centred care prioritises dignity by supporting the self-respect of the residents, recognising their capacities and ambitions, and doing nothing to undermine it. It also includes respect for their abilities, who they are and the life they've lived.

Opportunity to Learn

A person focused approach to care places emphasis on promoting wellbeing, encouraging and supporting independence. Residents are presented with an activities programme that offers opportunities to learn new things, continue hobbies and meet new people.

Outcome Focused Care at Springvale Care Home

Here at Springvale Care Home, we value resident’s wants and needs while striving to build upon their unique strengths and abilities. When residents feel heard and fully supported to do things they want to do and be as independent as they possibly can, we are more likely to see an improvement in overall health and wellbeing in older people.

Each of our residents at Springvale Care Home near Glasgow is assigned a key nurse to provide them with high quality care and support. This key nurse provides a familiar face for our residents and their family to liaise with and helps answer any questions or concerns they may have. They are also responsible for ensuring that all parties involved in a persons care, understands and shares the same goal.

With our incredibly diverse range of facilities and care options, we are proud to be able to deliver the highest level of care and support to older people. We seek to build deep, long-lasting connections with our residents and their loved ones so that no matter what they are going through, there is always a safe space here at our nursing home in Lennoxtown.

Our first-class facilities help create a rich and diverse lifestyle for each of our residents. Whether it's making use of the many facilities we have to offer such as our in house Cinema, Private Secure Gardens and Hair and Beauty Salon, or participating in our arts and Crafts and trips to the local community, there is something for everyone to fulfill their own lives. Our extensive and accessible activities programmes create a safe environment where residents can continue hobbies and develop new relationships while supporting mental health and physical health.

If you would like to find out more information regarding person centred care at our care home in Lennoxtown, or the services we have to offer then please get in touch with a member of staff and we will be happy to help.