Defining, monitoring and improving quality in Welsh care homes.

Despite the focus on quality in care homes, and the body of evidence that drives policy and practice, care home residents in Wales experience variations in quality of care. Quality is not easily defined, and care providers may have differing views on quality and how it is monitored. Health and social care professionals - including nurses - should understand the factors that affect quality in care homes. Quality improvement projects can support the development of a workplace culture that can sustain quality in care homes. This article defines quality, details methods that may be used to monitor quality, and outlines how quality in care homes can be improved.