The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review
Abstract Background How quality of care in homecare for older people is understood is important, because it influences how quality in homecare is delivered, improved, regulated and measured. We conducted a scoping review to summarise the meanings of homecare quality for key stakeholders and identify...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13057-1 |
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| author | Alex Hall Vanessa Davey Lisa McGarrigle Jayne Astbury Kimberly Lazo Green Nisar Ahmed Oleta Williams Fiona Beyer Barbara Hanratty Debora Price |
| author_facet | Alex Hall Vanessa Davey Lisa McGarrigle Jayne Astbury Kimberly Lazo Green Nisar Ahmed Oleta Williams Fiona Beyer Barbara Hanratty Debora Price |
| author_sort | Alex Hall |
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| description | Abstract Background How quality of care in homecare for older people is understood is important, because it influences how quality in homecare is delivered, improved, regulated and measured. We conducted a scoping review to summarise the meanings of homecare quality for key stakeholders and identify measures of homecare quality. Methods We searched four databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, ASSIA and Social Care Online) for peer-reviewed literature from high-income countries, and websites of major UK organisations for grey literature, published between 2016 and 2023. Articles were included if they reported views of any stakeholder on quality of care in the context of homecare for older people (aged 65 and above). Data were summarised using a qualitative content analysis approach to identify key dimensions of quality. Results Overall, 93 articles from 16 countries were included. Research focussed on understanding the views of four groups: older people, family carers, care workers and service providers. Homecare quality is understood as a multi-dimensional concept. We identified four dimensions: (1) relationships and continuity of care; (2) bespoke care; (3) organisational and structural aspects of care; and (4) understanding of quality as a measurable construct. Notable gaps in the literature include a lack of evidence on how older people form and articulate their preferences for homecare; a lack of consensus on care quality measurement; and a lack of focus on optimal models of care provision within existing budgets. Many crucial perspectives were absent, including owners of homecare organisations, inspectors and assessors involved in regulation of homecare services, and the legal or advocacy professions. Conclusions There is a wealth of evidence about how homecare quality for older people is understood. These understandings are largely consistent across different constituencies and countries. It is less clear how this shared vision of high quality homecare might be realised within existing systems. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0026d61ee7734869b538dded8dac4a2a2025-08-20T03:42:48ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-07-0125111310.1186/s12913-025-13057-1The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping reviewAlex Hall0Vanessa Davey1Lisa McGarrigle2Jayne Astbury3Kimberly Lazo Green4Nisar Ahmed5Oleta Williams6Fiona Beyer7Barbara Hanratty8Debora Price9National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of ManchesterAbstract Background How quality of care in homecare for older people is understood is important, because it influences how quality in homecare is delivered, improved, regulated and measured. We conducted a scoping review to summarise the meanings of homecare quality for key stakeholders and identify measures of homecare quality. Methods We searched four databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, ASSIA and Social Care Online) for peer-reviewed literature from high-income countries, and websites of major UK organisations for grey literature, published between 2016 and 2023. Articles were included if they reported views of any stakeholder on quality of care in the context of homecare for older people (aged 65 and above). Data were summarised using a qualitative content analysis approach to identify key dimensions of quality. Results Overall, 93 articles from 16 countries were included. Research focussed on understanding the views of four groups: older people, family carers, care workers and service providers. Homecare quality is understood as a multi-dimensional concept. We identified four dimensions: (1) relationships and continuity of care; (2) bespoke care; (3) organisational and structural aspects of care; and (4) understanding of quality as a measurable construct. Notable gaps in the literature include a lack of evidence on how older people form and articulate their preferences for homecare; a lack of consensus on care quality measurement; and a lack of focus on optimal models of care provision within existing budgets. Many crucial perspectives were absent, including owners of homecare organisations, inspectors and assessors involved in regulation of homecare services, and the legal or advocacy professions. Conclusions There is a wealth of evidence about how homecare quality for older people is understood. These understandings are largely consistent across different constituencies and countries. It is less clear how this shared vision of high quality homecare might be realised within existing systems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13057-1Domiciliary careHome careHome care servicesSocial careQuality |
| spellingShingle | Alex Hall Vanessa Davey Lisa McGarrigle Jayne Astbury Kimberly Lazo Green Nisar Ahmed Oleta Williams Fiona Beyer Barbara Hanratty Debora Price The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review BMC Health Services Research Domiciliary care Home care Home care services Social care Quality |
| title | The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review |
| title_full | The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review |
| title_short | The meaning of ‘quality’ of homecare for older people: a scoping review |
| title_sort | meaning of quality of homecare for older people a scoping review |
| topic | Domiciliary care Home care Home care services Social care Quality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13057-1 |
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