Kare project
Doing WELL for older people
The KARE Project is committed to improving the lives of older people in the community by ensuring that those who are frail and/or who have long-term health conditions are proactively and comprehensively cared for and supported; assisting them to live independently for as long as possible and enabling them to continue to both benefit from, and contribute to, their local community.
Our current health system is not always well adapted to patients with complexity and frailty. In particular, current care may be reactive and episodic rather than proactive and planned. The health and wellbeing needs of older patients often require a more intensive approach than is possible within a series of traditional 15 minute consultations with their GP.
The Kare Project addresses this need by delivering a highly supporting and proactive model of care to those in the community who need it the most.
The initiative was made possible by Well Foundation through the generous support of the Blockhouse Bay Senior Citizens and District Association. This support was then amplified by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand committing the additional funds required to benefit at least 200 patients throughout West Auckland over a three-year period.
The Kare Project is currently being rolled out across a selection of primary care organisations, including Health New Lynn (100 patients) and Green Bay (80 patients). All of the practices have identified a GP clinical lead, employed Kare nurse(s), and have started to assess and develop plans for Kare patients. The Kare project delivers workshops to nurses and GPs to help the practices deliver the programme. These workshops include an orientation of the Kare project, how to implement it, and presentations from a range of services on what they offer and how to refer. A clinical pharmacist provides training on how to optimise prescribing of medicines in older adults.
The Kare project has enabled Health New Lynn to holistically assess older adults and ensure that both their social and medical concerns are assessed, as lack of time is commonly a barrier to assessment.
The feedback received from patients has been extremely positive. They have found that these programmes have given them more confidence and improved health outcomes. The integration with social groups has helped their social interactions as they have previously commented they often have felt isolated. Through these activities, patients have felt they have become more connected to the community, family and friends.
The team at Health New Lynn recently shared examples of the impact the Kare programme is having for patients:
“Mrs X came in for her first consultation with the nurses after being referred by the doctor. She told the nurse that she had had a few near misses with falls and had stopped doing a lot of activities especially her weekly walks with friends. These reduced social activities had left Mrs X feeling socially isolated. She was referred to the HIP and Health coach, Stronger for Longer classes, and social groups that she could join, such as the Health New Lynn walking group. At the 6 month follow up, Mrs X stated that she had not had any falls since her initial appointment and felt the Stronger for Longer classes had been extremely helpful. She is also seeing the Physiotherapist and doing exercises at home. After joining the walking group, she has now been able to walk around the retirement village.”
Green Bay have shared with Well Foundation these lovely examples of patient support under the KARE project:
“A Kare assessment identified a rapidly declining cognitive impairment leading to an atypical dementia diagnosis in a patient which then helped the GP open up conversations with her family. This has meant that she now has input from a specialist. EPOAs were organised and extra home care support has been put in place to keep her safe until such time as she will have to move into residential care. “
“A fairly reclusive man with limited mobility who had been sleeping on a lazy boy and was wanting a walker but didn’t know who to ask, ended up getting a full OT assessment and his house fitted with safety and accessibility fittings. For him this was life changing, and he has been able to use his walker to go out to see his neighbours more, which he really enjoys.”
Tracy, a nurse at Green Bay, shares her positive experience working with Kare patients:
“I find spending time with patients during Kare appointments very rewarding. It is satisfying to see how we can make a difference to people’s day to day lives with even small changes. It is a privilege to be able to get to know our patients so closely and establish an ongoing rapport with them. Patients really enjoy the time at the appointment and are grateful for the support put in place as a result.”
Without the very generous support of Blockhouse Bay Senior Citizens and District Association, the Kare Project would not have been rolled out through these practices. Thanks to your funding, over 200 elderly people in the region are able to access a higher quality of primary care, receiving the respect and dignity that they deserve from the health care system.
For more information on this project or any other work that we do, please contact info@wellfoundation.org.nz
Our impact is only made possible through the following incredibly generous organisations:
