Modelling the comparative costs of Namaste Care: results from the namaste care intervention UK study

Abstract

To populate a theoretical cost model with real-world data, calculating staffing, resource and consumable costs of delivering NCI-UK sessions versus ‘usual care’ for care home residents with advanced dementia. Data from five care homes delivering NCI-UK sessions populated the cost model to generate session- and resident-level costs. Comparator usual care costs were calculated based on expert opinion and observational data. Outcome data for residents assessed the impact of NCI-UK sessions and aligned with the resident-level costs of NCI-UK. NCI-UK had a positive impact on residents’ physical, social and emotional well-being. An average NCI-UK group session cost £220.53, 22% more than usual care, and ran for 1.5-2 hours per day for 4-9 residents. No additional staff were employed to deliver NCI-UK, but staff-resident ratios were higher during Namaste Care. Usual care costs were calculated for the same time period when no group activity was organised. The average cost per resident, per NCI-UK session was £38.01, £7.24 more than usual care. In reality, costs were offset by consumables and resources being available from stock within a home. Activity costs are rarely calculated as the focus tends to be on impact and outcomes. This article shows that, although not cost neutral as previously thought, NCI-UK is a low-cost way of improving the lives of people living with advanced dementia in care homes.