Aims

This 2 year project aims to improve the health and well-being of older people living in care homes through
an innovative application of Human Factors Science. Good care in areas such as medications, nutrition, oral
health, pressure sore management and dementia is not just a matter of training staff in following different
procedures, but is also influenced by important organisational elements such as design, teamwork, planning
and the use of resources. These organisational influences on quality will be explored, using a structured
‘Human Factors’ approach recommended by key healthcare bodies. The study will identify how many
important aspects of care fit together and how teamwork and communication can be improved and how
competing demands can be balanced when resources are limited, with the aim of improving the health and
well-being of care home residents through the application of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE)