# Older people’s day centres’ preventive work: views of day centre providers and their stakeholders

## TL;DR

This study explores how older people's day centres in England contribute to preventive healthcare through the perspectives of staff and stakeholders.

## Contribution

The study identifies how day centres align with primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention frameworks and highlights systemic opportunities for improvement.

## Key findings

- Day centres align with primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention through staff and volunteer activities.
- Systemic opportunities include better evidence use and joint working among stakeholders.
- Budget constraints and limited joint commissioning hinder the full preventive potential of day centres.

## Abstract

Day centres in England provide important social support to people living in the community. Our study aimed to further understandings of day centres’ contribution to health and social care’s preventive agenda.

After obtaining ethical approval, we conducted qualitative interviews with 10-day centre stakeholders and 9 professional stakeholders, exploring their perceptions of day centres’ preventive function. Participants’ job roles provide context, while individual characteristics are anonymized.

Thematic analysis identified that day centre staff and volunteer activities to monitor attenders and intervene when needed align with the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention framework. A fourth theme, systemic opportunities, incorporates evidence, joint working and challenges.

Day centres for older people can be well-placed to contribute to integrated care’s prevailing preventive agenda. However, tight budgets and limited joint commissioning practices potentially miss the benefits of anticipatory care day centres may offer to maintaining well-being and preventing deterioration.