through the care process as a whole when they aim to bring about demand-based care
by means of modularity. Our findings suggest that different aspects and practices of
modularity come about in different stages of the long-term care process. In addition,
throughout the process, activities take place that affect the care and service package
of an individual elderly client. Current practice often tends to focus on process parts
or sub-processes that take place within one specific department or organizational
unit. However, activities and actions taken on the basis of client demand that occur
in one phase are likely to affect other phases and, as such, care package specification is
closely connected with various activities that take place during care package delivery
and package reconfiguration. Thus, the aims and individual characteristics of each of
the process stages should be acknowledged, but looking upon the care process as a
whole would make departments and individual professionals aware of the connections
between and effects of various sub-processes on each other.
Third, when providing demand-based care the client should be approached as an
individual with his own unique needs and preferences. At the same time, we would
advise providers to analyze the characteristics of client demands and be conscious of
common patterns and the degree of diversity (uniformity) in their client population, on
the basis of which client segments can be formed. Our research implies that analogies
among elderly clients can be exploited and variability can be reduced by creating
modular prototype packages. Moreover, the range of care and service supply can be
clearly structured into transparent menus of options that can be used for package
adaptation and fine-tuning.
Fourth, we would recommend providers of long-term care to pay attention to
client involvement not only during care delivery but also during the configuration
and reconfiguration of care packages. Our research indicated that the intensity of
involvement largely influences the degree of customization that can be achieved
by means of modularity. Processes should thus allow for involvement in order to
understand client demand thoroughly and make care packages truly demand-based.
In this respect, providers should consider what activities and which professionals are
most suited to interact closely with the client. At the same time, to manage uncertainty
induced by the client, our research suggested that providers can employ postponement
practices and, for example, delay customization activities to the end of the specification
process.
Fifth, our research raised awareness of the multiple roles a professional can play in
the provision of modular care and service packages. We would advise providers to
be conscious of these roles in each process stage and consider how professionals
can influence modularity and the provision of demand-based care in various ways.
Moreover, it is advisable to make professionals aware of their own actions and provide
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Care Provision