Contextualising English generalist day centres for older people: operational characteristics and typical days. Findings from case study research

Reports of Covid-19 pandemic related day centre closures impacting negatively on their attenders and family carers have fuelled a resurgence of interest in these services. The absence of detailed descriptions of this common, but often ‘invisible’, preventive service from the literature limits the evidence base since outcomes data without context are less meaningful. This descriptive article aims to demystify these diverse and multi-faceted settings by painting a rich, contemporary, pre-Covid pandemic picture of four purposively selected English day centres for older people using data from diary notes made during 56 full-day visits, documentation provided by centre managers, and interviews with 23 centre managers, staff and volunteers. The article aims to further understanding of these settings for potential collaborators and social care and health professionals, particularly in the context of rising social prescribing initiatives in England with their focus on linking older people to asset-based community resources. We provide baseline data for conversations concerning optimisation of such services in the post-pandemic recovery period and beyond: how buildings may be regarded as valuable community assets with potential, and how other parts of the health and care system may better interact with day services to improve older people’s, carers’ and others’ health and wellbeing, and to benefit of staff working elsewhere in health and care.