Payments and incentives
There is no payment for taking part in the study, but your costs will be reimbursed.
Care home eligibility
We are looking for 90 care homes who are keen to take part and who are willing to manage eligible residents using one of the approaches. We are keen to work with large care homes and are aiming to recruit about 17 residents per care home.
Resident eligibility
Residents aged 65 years and over who are living in your care home permanently and at risk of malnutrition will be eligible.
Processes and activities involved in the study
The research team will support the study at your care home. Initially, we will meet with you and your team to discuss the study in more depth. We would then work with you and your team to make sure that anyone involved has the appropriate training and support needed.
We would expect staff to:
- Participate in the training we provide
- Identify which residents are suitable for the study (we will provide the full eligibility criteria)
- Assist in recruiting residents by talking to them or their families about the study or giving out written information
- Work with the research team to obtain consent from residents or their families and collect data
- Provide the fortified food or ONS according to the guidance we provide (depending on which one your care home is randomly allocated)
The exact time commitment will be discussed with you in more detail if you choose to register your interest.
Likely benefits for the residents and care homes
Taking part in this study will provide you and your care home with the opportunity to focus on the nutritional care you give to your residents, demonstrating your commitment to improving outcomes, supporting high quality leadership, and becoming more responsive to the needs of your residents. The care homes in the ONS or FF groups will get additional training for their staff, and this will be made available to the care homes in the usual care group at the end of the study.
The Care Quality Commission is aware of this study and is interested in the results we produce. It is likely that they will apply the findings of this study in future 'good practice' guidance and monitoring for care homes.