Complex Homecare in MND

Exploring the role of homecare workers in supporting people with MND who have complex care needs

Advances in healthcare mean that more people with MND can live at home, supported by equipment such as ventilators and feeding tubes. Paid homecare workers play a crucial role in helping families to deliver this kind of complex care at home. However, little is known about how homecare workers carry out their responsibilities, the skills required, and how they work together with family carers and other healthcare professionals. 

This study aims to explore the role of homecare workers who support people living with MND with complex care needs. The researchers will interview homecare workers or ask them to keep a diary of their experiences, to investigate the practical tasks they perform, the emotional and social support they provide, and how they work with family carers and other professionals. The researchers hope the findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of complex care at home and improve the recruitment and training of homecare workers. This could lead to a higher quality of care at home for people with MND and increased support for family carers.