CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING SELF-MONITORING IN CARE HOMES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Authors

• Outi Kiljunen University of Eastern Finland
• Tarja Välimäki University of Eastern Finland
• Päivi Kankkunen Itä-Suomen yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.127132

Abstract

Client and patient safety and the quality of services are assured in social and health services primarily through self-monitoring. This article describes the challenges related to implementing self-monitoring in care homes for older people based on document analysis and an interview study. The research data consisted of the regional state administrative agencies' enforcement decisions (n=93) and interviews with front-line managers (n=7). The data were analysed with inductive-deductive content analysis. According to the results, factors related to management, staff turnover and availability problems, legislative amendments and interpretation of laws, lack of multi-professional expertise, and factors related to engagement of relatives and staff, caused challenges in the implementation of self-monitoring in care homes for older people. Changes in the operating environment, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, were reflected in the results. Service providers and organizers need to ensure that care homes' self-monitoring work is sufficiently supported, for instance, with suitable information systems, appropriate instructions, and by enabling multi-professional expertise.