Explaining experiences of community-dwelling older adults with a pro-active comprehensive geriatric assessment program - a thorough evaluation by interviews.

INTRODUCTION: Pro-active assessment programs are increasingly used to improve care for older adults. These programs include comprehensive geriatric tailored to individual patient preferences. Evidence for the effects of these programs on patient outcomes is nevertheless scarce or ambiguous. Explaining these dissatisfying results is difficult due to the multi-component nature of the programs. The objective of the current study was to explore and explain the experience of older adults participating in a pro-active assessment program, to help to clarify the effects. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with 25 participants of a pro-active assessment program for frail community-dwelling adults aged 65+. This study was part of an evaluation study on the effects of the program. Transcripts were analysed with thematic analysis and cross-case analysis. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 78.5 (SD 6.9) and 56% was female. The majority of the participants were satisfied with the program but based this on communication aspects, since only a few of them expressed real program benefits. Participant experiences could be clustered in six themes: (1) All participants expressed the need for a holistic view which was covered in the program, (2) the scope of the CGA was broader than expected or unclear, (3) the program delivered unexpected but valued help, (4) participants described a very low sense of ownership, (5) timing of the program implementation or the CGA was difficult and(6), participants and care workers had a different view on what to consider as a problem. These experiences could be explained by three program components: the degree of (the lack of) integration of the program within usual care, the pro-active screening method and the broader than expected, but appreciated multi-domain approach. CONCLUSION: Older adults' need for a holistic view is covered by this outpatient assessment program. However, their engagement and the correct timing of the program are hampered by the pro-active recruitment and the limited integration of the program within existing care. Furthermore, satisfaction seems an insufficient guiding factor when evaluating CGA programs for older adults because it does not reflect the impact of the program.

Experiences of case managers in providing person-centered and integrated care based on the Chronic Care Model: A qualitative study on embrace.

BACKGROUND: Due to the rise in the number of older adults within the population, healthcare demands are changing drastically, all while healthcare expenditure continues to grow. Person-centered and integrated-care models are used to support the redesigning the provision of care and support. Little is known, however, about how redesigning healthcare delivery affects the professionals involved. OBJECTIVES: To explore how district nurses and social workers experience their new professional roles as case managers within Embrace, a person-centered and integrated-care service for community-living older adults. METHODS: We performed a qualitative study consisting of in-depth interviews with case managers (district nurses, n = 6; social workers, n = 5), using a topic-based interview guide. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The experiences of the case managers involved four major themes: 1) the changing relationship with older adults, 2) establishing the case-manager role, 3) the case manager's toolkit, and 4) the benefits of case management. Within these four themes, subthemes addressed the shift to a person-centered approach, building a relationship of trust, the process of case management, knowledge and experience, competencies of and requirements for case managers, and the differences in professional background. DISCUSSION: We found that this major change in role was experienced as a learning process, one that provided opportunities for personal and professional growth. Case managers felt that they were able to make a difference, and found their new roles satisfying and challenging, although stressful at times. Ongoing training and support were found to be a prerequisite in helping to shift the focus towards person-centered and integrated care.

Integrated and Person-Centered Care for Community-Living Older Adults: A Cost-Effectiveness Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cost-effectiveness of Embrace, an integrated primary care service for older adults. DATA SOURCES: Care and support claims from health care insurers, long-term care administration, and municipalities for enrolled older adults between 2011 and 2013. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 1,456 older adults, listed with 15 general practitioners practices in the Netherlands, were stratified into risk profiles ("Robust," "Frail," and "Complex care needs") and randomized to Embrace or care-as-usual groups. Incremental costs were calculated per quality-adjusted life year, per day able to age in place, and per percentage point risk profile improvement. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Total average costs were higher for Embrace compared to care-as-usual. Differences in health-associated outcomes were small and not statistically significant. Probabilities that Embrace is cost-effective were below 80 percent, except for "risk profile improvements" within risk profile "Complex care needs." Complete case analysis resulted in smaller differences in total average costs across conditions and differences in health-associated outcomes remained small. CONCLUSIONS: According to current standards, Embrace is not considered cost effective after 12 months. However, it could be considered worthwhile in terms of "risk profile improvements" for older adults with "Complex care needs," if society is willing to invest substantially.

Effects of a population-based, person-centred and integrated care service on health, wellbeing and self-management of community-living older adults: A randomised controlled trial on Embrace.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the population-based, person-centred and integrated care service 'Embrace' at twelve months on three domains comprising health, wellbeing and self-management among community-living older people. METHODS: Embrace supports older adults to age in place. A multidisciplinary team provides care and support, with intensity depending on the older adults' risk profile. A randomised controlled trial was conducted in fifteen general practices in the Netherlands. Older adults (≥75 years) were included and stratified into three risk profiles: Robust, Frail and Complex care needs, and randomised to Embrace or care as usual (CAU). Outcomes were recorded in three domains. The EuroQol-5D-3L and visual analogue scale, INTERMED for the Elderly Self-Assessment, Groningen Frailty Indicator and Katz-15 were used for the domain 'Health.' The Groningen Well-being Indicator and two quality of life questions measured 'Wellbeing.' The Self-Management Ability Scale and Partners in Health scale for older adults (PIH-OA) were used for 'Self-management.' Primary and secondary outcome measurements differed per risk profile. Data were analysed with multilevel mixed-model techniques using intention-to-treat and complete case analyses, for the whole sample and per risk profile. RESULTS: 1456 eligible older adults participated (49%) and were randomized to Embrace (n(T0) = 747, n(T1) = 570, mean age 80.6 years (SD 4.5), 54.2% female) and CAU (n(T0) = 709, n(T1) = 561, mean age 80.8 years (SD 4.7), 55.6% female). Embrace participants showed a greater-but clinically irrelevant-improvement in self-management (PIH-OA Knowledge subscale effect size [ES] = 0.14), and a greater-but clinically relevant-deterioration in health (ADL ES = 0.10; physical ADL ES = 0.13) compared to CAU. No differences in change in wellbeing were observed. This picture was also found in the risk profiles. Complete case analyses showed comparable results. CONCLUSIONS: This study found no clear benefits to receiving person-centred and integrated care for twelve months for the domains of health, wellbeing and self-management in community-living older adults.

Integrated Care for Older Adults Improves Perceived Quality of Care: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Embrace.

BACKGROUND: All community-living older adults might benefit from integrated care, but evidence is lacking on the effectiveness of such services for perceived quality of care. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of Embrace, a community-based integrated primary care service, on perceived quality of care. DESIGN: Stratified randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Integrated care and support according to the "Embrace" model was provided by 15 general practitioners in the Netherlands. Based on self-reported levels of case complexity and frailty, a total of 1456 community-living older adults were stratified into non-disease-specific risk profiles ("Robust," "Frail," and "Complex care needs"), and randomized to Embrace or control groups. INTERVENTION: Embrace provides integrated, person-centered primary care and support to all older adults living in the community, with intensity of care dependent on risk profile. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was quality of care as reported by older adults on the Patient Assessment of Integrated Elderly Care (PAIEC). Effects were assessed using mixed model techniques for the total sample and per risk profile. Professionals' perceived level of implementation of integrated care was evaluated within the Embrace condition using the Assessment of Integrated Elderly Care. KEY RESULTS: Older adults in the Embrace group reported a higher level of perceived quality of care than those in the control group (B = 0.33, 95 % CI = 0.15-0.51, ES d = 0.19). The advantages of Embrace were most evident in the "Frail" and "Complex care needs" risk profiles. We found no significant advantages for the "Robust" risk profile. Participating professionals reported a significant increase in the perceived level of implementation of integrated care (ES r = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that providing a population-based integrated care service to community-living older adults improved the quality of care as perceived by older adults and participating professionals.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a measure to evaluate the quality of integrated care: the Patient Assessment of Integrated Elderly Care.

BACKGROUND: Novel population-based integrated care services are being developed to adequately serve the growing number of elderly people. Suitable, reliable and valid measurement instruments are needed to evaluate the quality of care delivered. OBJECTIVE: To develop a measure to evaluate the quality of integrated care from the perspective of elderly people, the Patient Assessment of Integrated Elderly Care (PAIEC), and then to assess its psychometric properties. METHODS/DESIGN: After the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care was adapted to the PAIEC, a cross-sectional postal-survey study was performed among 223 elderly people who received integrated elderly care and support. We assessed the factor structure, internal consistency, known groups and divergent validity using robust nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 83 years (standard deviation 4.7), and 69% was female. The original five-factor model was rejected; a good fit was found for a three-factor model, when excluding the item on patients' satisfaction with care. The PAIEC and its subscales showed good internal consistency (ordinal alphas > 0.90). Known-groups validity was supported regarding number of medications, prevalence of chronic conditions and home care received. No differences were found between groups based on sociodemographic aspects. Divergent validity was supported by low correlations (Spearman's rank correlation coefficients < 0.30) between PAIEC scales and measures of quality of life, complexity of care needs and frailty. CONCLUSION: The PAIEC seems to have considerable potential as a reliable and valid measurement instrument that evaluates quality of integrated care and support from the perspective of elderly people.