The project developed and validated a conceptual framework to help state agencies in low and middle-income countries to limit the impact of COVID-19 in care homes for older people. This included (i) obtaining baseline information about vulnerability to COVID-19 for all care homes in three different sites (the Western Cape in South Africa, the state of Bahia in Brazil and Mexico City); (ii) reviewing current practice of relevant state agencies including inter-agency collaboration and specific responses to the pandemic; (iii) continual engagement with stakeholders to support enhanced practice; (iv) monitoring and review of changes to practice and related outcomes in care homes over an 18-month period. We apply a range of methods, including a mixed-methods survey of care homes, process evaluation and rapid review, and co-duct comparative analysis and dissemination to support the application of insights beyond the three study sites in Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
Among other things, we contributed to the development of a new civil society organisation Brazil which has brought together over 8,000 care homes to share good practice for COVID-19 infection control and mitigation strategies (Frente-Ilpi – Frente-ilpi).
Link to project website: COVID-19 and long-term care | Global Platform (corona-older.com)
