People living in care homes should expect the same level of support as if they were living in their own homes. This can only be achieved through collaboration between health, social care, Voluntary, Community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sectors and care home partners.
What is EHCH?
The enhanced health in care homes (EHCH) model moves away from traditional reactive models of care delivery towards proactive care centering on the needs of individual residents, their families and care home staff. Such care can only be achieved through a whole-system, collaborative approach.
What are we doing in Benfleet?
We are supporting the 7 elderly care homes and 1 learning disability home within Benfleet Primary Care Network (PCN). A clinician (advanced nurse practitioner or emergency care practitioner) will visit the homes on a weekly basis to perform weekly ward rounds, which can include discussions around the patient concerns in a holistic approach involving physical, mental and cognitive health of the patient and to complete individual personalised advanced care plans for all the residents speaking with both the residents and their power of attorney.
Advanced care planning can make the difference between a future where a person makes their own decisions and a future where others do. It also helps ensure that we are able to act according to their wishes when their care needs change, and how we best assist with ensuring people are comfortable and in their preferred setting in the last phases of life.
Other clinicians such as our healthcare assistants, pharmacy technicians and clinical pharmacists are involved in the person’s care completing frailty assessments, undertaking general observations or assessments and ensuring medication is current, reviewed and suitable for them. Our care coordinator is the care home’s main point of contact for queries, requests or information, helping to ensure seamless communication between the patient, care home staff, GP, other practice staff or clinicians, other services and the patient’s representative (e.g. next of kin, appointed attorney or family member) as needed.
By having a PCN led model made up of a multi-disciplinary team of individuals we provide joined up and integrated care to our residents. Above all, we strive to keep the person at the centre of what we do, adhering to their wishes for current and future care.