Social Distancing and Isolation Strategies to Prevent and Control the Transmission of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in Care Homes for Older People: An International Review

Older people living in care homes are at high risk of poor health outcomes and mortality if they contract COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Measures used to protect residents include social distancing and isolation, although implementation is challenging. This review aimed to assess the social...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-03, Vol.19 (6), p.3450
Main Authors: Sims, Sarah, Harris, Ruth, Hussein, Shereen, Rafferty, Anne Marie, Desai, Amit, Palmer, Sinead, Brearley, Sally, Adams, Richard, Rees, Lindsay, Fitzpatrick, Joanne M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Communicable Diseases
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Disease prevention
Disease transmission
Grey literature
Health risks
Humans
Infectious diseases
Literature reviews
Long term health care
Nursing homes
Older people
Pandemics
Physical Distancing
Public health
Qualitative research
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Social distancing
Social Support
Staphylococcus infections
Tabulation
Well being
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Summary:Older people living in care homes are at high risk of poor health outcomes and mortality if they contract COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Measures used to protect residents include social distancing and isolation, although implementation is challenging. This review aimed to assess the social distancing and isolation strategies used by care homes to prevent and control the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Seven electronic databases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, HMIC, Social Care Online, and Web of Science Core Collection. Grey literature was searched using MedRxiv, PDQ-Evidence, NICE Evidence Search, LTCCovid19.org and TRIP. Extracted data were synthesised using narrative synthesis and tabulation. 103 papers were included (10 empirical studies, seven literature reviews, and 86 policy documents). Strategies used to prevent and control the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases included social distancing and isolation of residents and staff, zoning and cohorting of residents, restriction of resident movement/activities, restriction of visitors and restriction of staff working patterns. This review demonstrates a lack of empirical evidence and the limited nature of policy documentation around social distancing and isolation measures in care homes. Evaluative research on these interventions is needed urgently, focusing on the well-being of all residents, particularly those with hearing, vision or cognitive impairments.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19063450