Purpose - Psychologically informed environments (PIEs) are increasingly being used within the homeless sector to meet the psychological needs of this population, with increasing evidence for their effectiveness. Reflective practice (RP) is one of the "pillars" of the PIE approach. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact on staff following the delivery of RP in Centrepoint: a national homeless charity for young people (YP) aged 16-25 years, following its introduction and adaptation post COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach - A mixed method approach was adopted. Data collected on the frequency and uptake of RP across the organisation was analysed, including qualitative analyses of the themes emerging from the RP sessions and a staff survey to explore attendees' experience of RP. Findings - Overall, the majority of staff were satisfied with RP and found it helpful. Qualitative responses from the survey indicated that staff valued having a space to reflect on and speak about their work as well as a place to learn new psychological "tools" or approaches to working with the homeless YP. They also noted the "supportive" function of the sessions, which is particularly important given the stressful impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on "frontline" health and social care staff. Dissatisfaction was associated with a lack of access or insufficient frequency of RP sessions, suggesting more resources are required to allow for a greater provision of RP. Originality/value - To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is one of the first to explore RP in the homelessness sector, and the first within the COVID-19 pandemic.
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present insights into how extra care housing (ECH) can support couples, where at least one partner is living with dementia. ECH is a model of housing with flexible care and support that supports older people to live independently. Couples are enabled to continue to live together in a self-contained flat or apartment with additional support for either or both parties as required.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports on findings from a large study of living with dementia in ECH (DemECH) that involved qualitative interviews with ECH residents affected by dementia, ECH staff and adult social care professionals were conducted across eight ECH schemes in England.FindingsData offer insight into how ECH can support couples might navigate their relationship, maintain a sense of togetherness and adapt to the challenges posed by changing care and support needs and cognitive decline.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study are based on a small sample with limited diversity, which is not claimed to be representative. Participants were identified by gatekeepers at each research site, which may have presented some selection bias.Originality/valueThis paper provides novel insights into the living experiences of couples residing in ECH where at least one partner is living with dementia. Couples' experiences in ECH have been little considered in research thus far.
PurposeThe Frailty, and Holistic Care Needs Assessment (FHCNA) questionnaire was designed for use by non-clinical staff to assess the health and social care needs among people residing in homeless hostels. This study aims to refine the FHCNA to enable use in practice. The authors explored the views of mainstream health and social care professionals (HSCPs) regarding necessary questions, formatting and potential utility and then modified the questionnaire so it can be used to respond to identified needs in line with health reviews and Care Act assessments.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews with HSCPs practising in mainstream services were carried out and analysed thematically to explore their views of how they could be supported to respond to the frailty needs of people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Modifications to the FHCNA were made, and focus groups were carried out to check for usability with hostel staff and people with lived experience of homelessness.FindingsMultiple uses of the modified FHCNA were identified including guiding consultations, supporting multi-disciplinary decision making and education/advocacy for both mainstream professionals and homelessness services. To optimise its utility in the face of systemic barriers, adaptations were suggested, including a shift towards the social care paradigm to support professionals' understanding of identified needs within the context of the Care Act, the addition of information to combat the normalisation of frailty in PEH and prompts to streamline responses from GPs. Feedback from PEH and hostel staff was positive, and acceptability of the questionnaire remained following adaptations.Practical implicationsMultiple uses of the modified FHCNA were identified, including guiding consultations, supporting multidisciplinary decision-making and education/advocacy for both mainstream professionals and homelessness services.Social implicationsFindings supported adaptations of the FHCNA to combat the normalisation of frailty in PEH and prompts to streamline responses from GPs.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore how information regarding the health and care needs of PEH can be gathered in a way that facilitates a timely and individualised response from mainstream HSCPs.
PurposeThis study of bibliometric analysis aims to fill the gap in current research on formal social support for older adults, particularly focusing on their wellbeing and quality of life. The goal is to offer a clear overview of the academic progress in this area using a bibliometric approach.Design/methodology/approachThe group of data sets containing publications up to December 2023 from Scopus was created to gather relevant information on formal social support for the elderly. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a historical overview of research trends. Bibliometric techniques were applied to identify key articles, authors, journals, organizations and countries that have contributed to this field.FindingsThe analysis shows the current state of research, emphasizing key contributors, important publications and emerging themes in ageing studies. Citation patterns and literature reviews played a crucial role in identifying the factors that influence the development of scholarly work on formal social support for the elderly.Practical implicationsThis study offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners involved in designing and implementing programs and services for older adults. The identification of influential publications and prominent researchers can also facilitate knowledge translation and collaboration, ensuring that research findings are effectively disseminated and used in practice.Originality/valueThis research greatly improves the understanding of social support systems and their impact on the quality of life for elderly individuals, filling gaps in existing literature. It introduces a new perspective by integrating literature on formal social support, highlighting the importance of focusing on these systems and their implementation strategies for older adults. This study also sheds light on key contributors and emerging areas of interest in the field of ageing.
Purpose When developing housing-focused strategies to address homelessness, stakeholders often face barriers in the form of community resistance that can impede the availability and, therefore, access to various housing options. The purpose of this study is to outline the literature regarding the neighborhood impacts of permanent supportive housing (PSH) and emergency shelters (ESs). Design/methodology/approach Peer-reviewed and gray literature from 2011 to 2021 on the neighborhood impacts of ESs and PSH was reviewed. Findings Studies indicate that PSH generally has positive impacts on communities. The limited research on ESs demonstrates that they can have some negative impacts on neighborhood property values, crime and emergency service utilization, but that being unhoused is often an underlying cause of crime victimization and the need for services. Originality/value The findings of this review are of practical relevance for housing programs and policies in communities, as well as for social and health services. This review also points to a need for further research on ESs and the incorporation of voices of people with lived experience of housing instability.
