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.

The Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) model moves away from traditional reactive models of care delivery towards proactive care centring on the needs of individual residents, their families and care home staff. Such care can only be achieved through a whole-system, collaborative approach.

We are supporting the 6 elderly care homes within our PCN. A GP and either a Clinical Pharmacist or Paramedic will visit the homes on a weekly basis to perform weekly ward rounds, which can include discussions around the best medicine choice for the patient and to complete Individual Personalized 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.