CarePlus: A Home and Community Focused Source for Health and Social Care Information

Abstract

The growing population of older people need effective support in their own homes, including the provision of information that is relevant and accurate. Building on the findings of a previous three-year research study (ACTION), CarePlus has developed an on-line information service to meet the identified requirements of this client group in local community settings.Care Plus is a quality assured system that contains bespoke information about local health and social care services at four pilot sites in the Trent region. It also provides a gateway to other on-line information sources. The study evaluates the information needs and preferences of older people and carers. It also charts the process of setting up an effective infrastructure for the collection, preparation and publication of local information. Provisional findings suggest that initial perceived barriers to electronic information delivery are overcome when users access a comprehensive collection of local, relevant and up-to-date information. The CarePlus system provides an effective method of co-ordinating the delivery of locally focused and centrally managed information. The project has identified the need for agreed standards for maintaining currency and authentication of web-based materials relating to health and social care. © 2003, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.