Study assesses impact of good care on life expectancy

Mobile Care Monitoring developer Person Centred Software and University College London (UCL) are partnering in research to assess the impact of good care on life expectancy.

The announcement followed Guardian analysis of data published by the Office of National Statistics, which revealed that more than 1,000 care home residents have died suffering from malnutrition, dehydration or bed sores (see Shocking care home dehydration and malnourishment statistics revealed).

Professor Laurence Lovat, leading the study, said: “The report by the Office of National Statistics may well underestimate the magnitude of the issue. There are many clues that a problem may be developing.

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“Our research is looking at using big data analysis of routinely collected information by care home workers to identify patterns which predict development of malnutrition and dehydration. This will lead to simple early interventions to prevent this entirely avoidable cause of death in vulnerable care home residents.”

Person Centred Software’s Mobile Care Monitoring intelligent mobile solution is playing a key role in helping to combat the risk of malnourishment and dehydration in care homes.

Rather than guess what people have drunk and risk them being dehydrated, using Mobile Care Monitoring, staff can accurately and immediately evidence fluids they have offered, and residents have drunk. With access to precise evidence of care, fluids can be monitored, and risks are greatly reduced, not just to dehydration. One care home group found that by monitoring fluids using Mobile Care Monitoring, they were able to also reduce falls by 33%.

Alison Redhead, Registered Manager at Minster Grange Care Home, said: “A member of the care team requested that a resident was put on fluid watch as they were concerned that they weren’t drinking enough. The fact that this member of staff, rather than feel frustrated, knew that the system could support us shows just how invaluable the Mobile Care Monitoring system is.”