This study aimed to co-design a model of brilliant care for older people that provides clear, actionable principles to guide how brilliant care for older people can be realised.
As the demand for and international importance of care for older people grows, so too does the negative discourse about care for older people. This ongoing focus on deficiencies can have implications for patients, carers, clinicians, health services, and policymakers, overshadowing opportunities for innovation and positive change.
Experience-based co-design informed this study, grounded in the lived experiences of key stakeholders.
Three scaffolded co-design workshops were facilitated, involving lived experience experts, managers, professionals, clinicians, and an academic (n= 13). The data collected during these workshops were analysed using a qualitative descriptive method and documented according to COREQ guidelines to optimise rigour and transparency.
The participants co-designed a model of brilliant care for older people, comprising principles to promote connection and innovation. To promote connection, the model includes protecting staff member time to deliver meaningful care and demonstrating that everyone matters. To promote innovation, it encourages role flexibility, curiosity, small improvements, and the recognition of brilliant practices.
This article presents a co-designed model of brilliant care for older people, incorporating principles of connection and innovation that can be enacted through simple, resource-efficient practices.
For those who manage and deliver care for older people, the model encompasses simple, accessible, and cost-effective principles to: positively deviate from norms within the sector, offering care to older people; and to deliver brilliant care for older people. Furthermore, given that the model was co-designed with lived experience experts, managers, professionals, and clinicians, its principles are imbued with their experiential insights, which served to bring particular priorities to the fore.
The co-designers, who included lived experience experts, were invited to participate in workshops to co-design a model of brilliant care for older people, during which they discussed and critiqued the findings constructed from the data and co-designed the model.
Incontinence-associated dermatitis poses a significant risk for sacral pressure injuries, infection and morbidity in healthcare settings. Despite the availability of best practice guidelines, implementation remains a challenge.
To outline the implementation of a hospital-wide programme using the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework to prevent and manage incontinence-associated dermatitis and improve hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
This is an empirical research study using mixed methods.
The study, conducted across surgical, medical and critical care wards between June and October 2023, aimed to address knowledge gaps, enhance clinical practice and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. The implementation strategy included education modules, engagement of staff through focus groups and targeted interventions such as individualised toileting plans and structured skin care regimens. Data collection involved audits, incident reporting and clinician knowledge surveys.
Findings indicate a reduction in hospital-acquired incontinence-associated dermatitis and pressure injuries postimplementation, with observed improvements in clinician knowledge. However, challenges including workload, skill mix and resource limitations were identified as barriers to implementation. The sustainability and scalability of the programme were emphasised, with ongoing monitoring and evaluation essential for long-term success.
This study underscores the importance of evidence-based interventions, interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership support in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs associated with preventable skin injuries. Further research is needed to assess implementation in community settings and scale up interventions across healthcare networks.
Analysing a hospital-wide programme using the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Service framework to prevent and manage incontinence-associated dermatitis and improve hospital-acquired pressure injuries, could help identify the challenges for delivering patient-centred care.
No patient or public involvement.
To describe the implementation study, we referred to the StaRI Guideline.
Trial Registration: This intervention study was applied to the whole population and was therefore not a trial and did not require trial registration. The study was considered low risk and the Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) was approved