Dr Olivia Luijnenburg
Research Associate
Biography
Olivia Luijnenburg is a Research Associate in King's College London's NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce (HSCWRU). She is a medical anthropologist and has a special interest in residential care for older people, spirituality and health, qualitative health research, and ethics in care. She conducted her PhD research at the University of Surrey on the ethical implications of spirituality in residential care for older people, which was funded by Abbeyfield Research Foundation.
At HSCWRU, she is working on the project 'The other keyworkers in care homes: implications of including domestic staff in social care workforce strategies and practices relating to COVID-19 recovery'. With Kritika Samsi, she also co-ordinates the Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum.
Listen: Minds In Motion, Dr Olivia Luijnenburg, Spirituality in Dementia Care (podcast, 25 November 2024)
Research
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London: Social Care Theme
Researchers at HSCWRU are working on the Social Care theme as part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London.
International educational partnerships to develop the healthcare workforce
Building on the Unit's earlier review of ethical international recruitment
Project status: Completed
The other keyworkers in care homes: Implications of including domestic staff in social care workforce strategies and practices relating to COVID-19 recovery
Housekeeping staff in care homes – cleaners, those working in kitchens, laundries, maintenance – are often forgotten but are the backbone of many care homes.
Project status: Completed
Skills gaps in social care: A rapid review
We are conducting an evidence review focusing on skills gaps in the social care workforce.
Project status: Completed
The Visa Study: Understanding the impact of the Health and Care Worker visa on the frontline adult social care workforce
Evaluating the impact of immigration rule changes on the social care system.
Project status: Completed
Social care Personal Assistants in a COVID era [PA-3]
This study of a sample of Personal Assistants is exploring what the pandemic's enduring impact has been for them.
Project status: Completed
Spirituality in residential care for people living with dementia: implementing reflective tools for care workers of people living with dementia (SpiritDem)
How can people living with dementia in care homes from different cultural and faith backgrounds be best supported with their spiritual needs?
Project status: Ongoing
Strengths-based approaches in social care and community services
From October 2024 to March 2026, our work continues to focus on strengths-based approaches in social care and community services.
Project status: Ongoing
Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP)
We are co-producing research and development priorities for south London social care communities.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Introducing Manjot Brar
Manjot is an intern at the Unit, working with Olivia Luijnenburg
Dementia Research Ethics Resources released
Unit researcher Olivia Luijnenburg among those behind new guide
Expanding the concept of 'ageing in place' to include 'dying in place'
Professor Linda Yin-King Lee, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, visited the Unit
“Echoes Through Time: The Story of Care”
Olivia Luijnenburg was at a Coram theatre evening at Hoxton Hall
At the March Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Flu vaccination rates among care home staff. The work families undertake during care journeys. Falls prevention.
Developing research proposals
Olivia Luijnenburg's team project for a virtual reality learning platform wins seed funding
At the September Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Topics were: Care Homes Independent Pharmacist Prescribing Study and the national VIVALDI study
International educational partnerships to develop the healthcare workforce
What are the benefits and challenges associated with these partnerships?
At the Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology 2023
King's researchers were a strong presence at this year's conference at UEA
At the June Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Topics were: Mealtimes for people living with dementia, and the Virtual International Care Homes Trials Archive
Events
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum February 2025
‘Better Care Moves’. Making mealtimes better for people living with dementia.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2024
Flu vaccination rates amongst care home staff. The work families undertake during care journeys. Falls prevention.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum September 2023
Pharmacists in care homes. The public health response to COVID-19 in care homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum June 2023
Mealtimes. Virtual International Care Homes Trials Archive.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2023
Transfers from care homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum September 2022
Two Covid studies: Social distancing and isolation. Supporting ancillary workers.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum June 2022
Personal Interventions in Care Homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2022
Visiting in care homes during COVID-19.
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London: Social Care Theme
Researchers at HSCWRU are working on the Social Care theme as part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London.
International educational partnerships to develop the healthcare workforce
Building on the Unit's earlier review of ethical international recruitment
Project status: Completed
The other keyworkers in care homes: Implications of including domestic staff in social care workforce strategies and practices relating to COVID-19 recovery
Housekeeping staff in care homes – cleaners, those working in kitchens, laundries, maintenance – are often forgotten but are the backbone of many care homes.
Project status: Completed
Skills gaps in social care: A rapid review
We are conducting an evidence review focusing on skills gaps in the social care workforce.
Project status: Completed
The Visa Study: Understanding the impact of the Health and Care Worker visa on the frontline adult social care workforce
Evaluating the impact of immigration rule changes on the social care system.
Project status: Completed
Social care Personal Assistants in a COVID era [PA-3]
This study of a sample of Personal Assistants is exploring what the pandemic's enduring impact has been for them.
Project status: Completed
Spirituality in residential care for people living with dementia: implementing reflective tools for care workers of people living with dementia (SpiritDem)
How can people living with dementia in care homes from different cultural and faith backgrounds be best supported with their spiritual needs?
Project status: Ongoing
Strengths-based approaches in social care and community services
From October 2024 to March 2026, our work continues to focus on strengths-based approaches in social care and community services.
Project status: Ongoing
Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP)
We are co-producing research and development priorities for south London social care communities.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Introducing Manjot Brar
Manjot is an intern at the Unit, working with Olivia Luijnenburg
Dementia Research Ethics Resources released
Unit researcher Olivia Luijnenburg among those behind new guide
Expanding the concept of 'ageing in place' to include 'dying in place'
Professor Linda Yin-King Lee, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, visited the Unit
“Echoes Through Time: The Story of Care”
Olivia Luijnenburg was at a Coram theatre evening at Hoxton Hall
At the March Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Flu vaccination rates among care home staff. The work families undertake during care journeys. Falls prevention.
Developing research proposals
Olivia Luijnenburg's team project for a virtual reality learning platform wins seed funding
At the September Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Topics were: Care Homes Independent Pharmacist Prescribing Study and the national VIVALDI study
International educational partnerships to develop the healthcare workforce
What are the benefits and challenges associated with these partnerships?
At the Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology 2023
King's researchers were a strong presence at this year's conference at UEA
At the June Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Topics were: Mealtimes for people living with dementia, and the Virtual International Care Homes Trials Archive
Events
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum February 2025
‘Better Care Moves’. Making mealtimes better for people living with dementia.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2024
Flu vaccination rates amongst care home staff. The work families undertake during care journeys. Falls prevention.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum September 2023
Pharmacists in care homes. The public health response to COVID-19 in care homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum June 2023
Mealtimes. Virtual International Care Homes Trials Archive.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2023
Transfers from care homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum September 2022
Two Covid studies: Social distancing and isolation. Supporting ancillary workers.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum June 2022
Personal Interventions in Care Homes.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum March 2022
Visiting in care homes during COVID-19.
Please note: this event has passed.