Hodges Model in Residential Care, Ireland

Claire Welford, Clinical Link Facilitator – Gerontology: a joint appointment between the National University of Ireland, Galway & The Nursing & Midwifery Planning Development Unit, HSE West - e-mailed me to say she is using Hodges' model.

It was great to hear this news. I put some questions to Claire as follows:

Q. What attracted you to Hodges model?

A. Its ability to address social needs.

Q. What are your objectives?

A. To prompt staff to address older people's social participation needs in long-stay residential care. To include all team members in care planning, including Health Care Assistants.

Q. How are you finding using the model - pros and cons (any surprises)?

A. No major problems yet. Some staff are struggling with new terminology. So many staff are used to Roper, Logan & Tierney, which I believe is not suitable for older person care.

Q. What feedback are you receiving from staff and students?

A. Staff as above. Students are interested and their Clinical Placement Co-ordinators have attended the educational sessions.

Q. Any comments from your colleagues?

A. User-Friendly. Succinct.

Q. Did you use any resources from the website, Brian's notes for example?

A. I didn't really use the notes, just used the general theory and went from there myself.

Q. Have you created any tools to help you, or do you feel there is something missing?

A. I have included assessment tools for nutrition, pressure sores, continence, manual handling and falls risk assessment.

Q. Would you be interested in doing a podcast interview, (if I can fully master the technical aspects)?

A. Happy to do a podcast. It would be great to see Hodges' model used more.

Q. Can you tell me about your role and work Claire?

A. For my role please see above, while my research interests include:

* Promoting quality care for older people.
* PhD work looking at autonomy in long-stay care of older people.
* Person-Centred Care.
* Action research/Qualitative methodologies.
* Currently a member of the Departments research cluster for older person research.

Claire also forwarded a publication on care planning in relation to the introduction of this model.

It sounds like Claire's use of Hodges model is at quite a high level, which supports the idea that the model is not prescriptive in terms of care philosophy or approach (note also the range of assessment tools). The way the model has been adopted also suggests it is quite accessible. Hodges' model is helping to extend the thinking and reflection of staff as they assess, plan and evaluate care in the residential setting.

For some people there may be a problem with Claire picking up the model and applying it in this way. Where is the evidence that the model is being used consistently? What about quality assurance? This brief Q&A sesssion prompts many more questions, that I hope we will have an opportunity to explore in the future.

On the other hand information literacy and knowledge management allied with the Web, are supposed to encourage the dissemination AND use of tools and resources. Given Claire's role and skills she has made a professional judgement, evaluated and appraised Hodges' model and found it of potential use and has set about testing her assumption. She is not doing this alone, but has Clinical Placement Co-ordinators on board. Quality assurance and detailed research do need to follow (this is why I created the website), but lack of this should not hamper progress.

Claire asked about keeping in touch - definitely - and thanks++ for sharing your work.

[For an introduction to Hodges model there is a 30 minute podcast.]