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The development of a platform to ensure an integrated care plan for older adults with complex care needs living at home

Lorena Villa-García (RE-FIT Barcelona Research Group, Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain) (Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain) (QIDA, Barcelona, Spain)
Ariadna Puig (QIDA, Barcelona, Spain)
Pau Puigpelat (QIDA, Barcelona, Spain)
Montse Solé-Casals (QIDA, Barcelona, Spain)
Oriol Fuertes (QIDA, Barcelona, Spain)

Journal of Integrated Care

ISSN: 1476-9018

Article publication date: 11 July 2022

Issue publication date: 12 October 2022

223

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and development of the digital platform for the development and monitoring of care plans for older adults with complex care needs who are users of a home care service.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study. The authors conducted an iterative process of design adapted to the environment and user-centred, agile development and research methodologies and a framework of complex interventions. They followed a four-step process: (1) conceptualization: analysis and design; (2) usability and high-fidelity prototyping; (3) software development; and (4) field testing in usual care. Older adults, informal caregivers, professional caregivers, and healthcare and social workers identified specific requirements and participated continuously through interviews, focus groups and consensus.

Findings

In the conceptualization phase, the theory, context and requirements were identified, and the content and prototypes were developed. In the usability phase, the design was validated. The approach employed resulted in a digital technology that supports a person-centred care model in a home care company. In the conceptualization phase, the theory, context and requirements were identified, and the content and prototypes were developed. In the usability phase, the design was validated. The approach employed resulted in a digital technology that supports a person-centred care model in a home care company.

Originality/value

The methodology employed has allowed the development of a platform based on theory, user needs and context. This could increase the possibilities of use and implementation of the technology and inspire other developers.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participating older adults, caregivers, health and social professionals, and in addition, the authors thank the QIDA team for continued contribution to the triple M: more people, more time at home and more quality of life.

Funding: The study has not received funding from external agencies. The authors acknowledge the financial support to the first author through the Industrial Doctorates program (reference 2020 DI 76), which was promoted by the Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain.

Citation

Villa-García, L., Puig, A., Puigpelat, P., Solé-Casals, M. and Fuertes, O. (2022), "The development of a platform to ensure an integrated care plan for older adults with complex care needs living at home", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 310-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-01-2022-0010

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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