Priority 1 for Setting priorities for social care research in Wales

UNCERTAINTY: Does early care planning and/or early or regular contact by social care services, help prevent problems and result in better experiences for older people than waiting until there is a crisis?  (Priority 1)
Overall ranking 1
JLA question ID 0102/1
Explanatory note Many of the older people and carers commented on how much they valued regular contact from social care service even just a phone call and wondered if this would prevent people from ‘being found dead in their home’. Practitioners asked whether providing services early on to fix problems sooner was successful in preventing people from developing more serious problems. 
Evidence

Fitzpatrick JM, Tzouvara V. Facilitators
and inhibitors of transition for older people who have
relocated to a long‐term care facility: A systematic review.
Health Soc Care Community. 2019;27:e57–e81. https://doi.
org/10.1111/hsc.12647 ~ Effects of preventive home visits on older people's use and costs of health care services: a systematic review LIMMATTA H., et al. European Geriatric Medicine, 7(6), 2016, pp.571-580.
Health Research Classification System category  Generic health relevance
Extra information provided by this project
Original uncertainty examples Having weekly meetings helps me feel supported and not alone.  ~  approach people to see what help they need ~ Frequent one to one contact ~ Regular visits at prearranged time. ~ Regular contact for physical help, advice and assistance with and from the 'carer', friend or family member or authority officer is vital as there is nothing worse mentally than feeling you are alone in the world and noone else is interested in you and your problems. ~ Knowing that people are contacting us to see if were ok. Its reassuring. 
Submitted by 24 x older people, 5 x carers, 1 x practitioner, 1 x other 
Project information
Project unique ID 0102
Project name Setting priorities for social care research in Wales
Total number of uncertainties identified by this project. 35  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 16 & 17 September 2020