Medical Care for people in Residential Aged Care Services

Objective The aims of the present study were to describe the views of senior clinical and executive staff employed in public sector residential aged care services (RACS) about the benefits and limitations of using quality indicators (QIs) for improving care, and to identify any barriers or enablers to implementing the QI program. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study using semistructured interviews and direct observation of key informants involved in the QI program was performed across 20 public sector RACS in Victoria, Australia. Participants included senior clinical, executive and front-line staff at the RACS. The main outcome measures were perceived benefits and the enablers or barriers to the implementation of a QI program. Results Most senior clinical and executive staff respondents reported substantive benefits to using the QIs and the QI program. A limited number of staff believed that the QI program failed to improve the quality of care and that the resource requirements outweighed the benefits of the program, resulting in disaffected staff. Conclusions The QIs and QI program acted as a foundation for improving standards of care when used at the front line or point of care. Senior executive engagement in the QI program was vital to successful implementation. What is known about this topic? QIs measure the structures, processes or outcomes of care and identify issues that need further investigation or improvement. QIs are increasingly being adopted throughout the world. In Australia, the public sector RACS QIs project was implemented in 2006. It is yet to be formally evaluated. What does this paper add? Perceived benefits and limitations of the QI program were identified, together with barriers to successful implementation of the program and recommendations for future improvements. QI data were reported to improve quality culture and assist with identifying clinical areas for improvement. However, the QI program was associated with significantly increased workload and some stakeholders questioned its usefulness. The QI program studied could be improved through better access to education and training for those responsible for data collection and results dissemination to appropriate training and resources; and revision of the QI definitions and reporting methods. What are the implications for clinicians? QI data are useful for identifying opportunities for quality improvement. Despite data limitations, public sector RACS can use data for internal benchmarking, staff education and targeting of quality improvement interventions. At the policy level, revising the QI definitions and simplifying data collection and reporting would improve and strengthen the program. At the clinician and executive level, there is also a strong preference for QI data that allow comparison and benchmarking between facilities.

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EVALUATION OF AN APPRAOCH FOR DEVELOPING A TOUCH SCREEN UI FOR RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE SERVICES

Software Technology and Engineering ◽

10.1142/9789814289986_0040 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

SEVAG DEMIRJIAN ◽

ZENON CHACZKO ◽

BRUCE MOULTON ◽

VENKATESH MAHADEVAN

Keyword(s):

Touch Screen ◽

Aged Care ◽

Residential Aged Care ◽

Care Services

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Dry Eyes, Ocular Lubricants, and Use of Systemic Medications Known or Suspected to Cause Dry Eyes in Residents of Aged Care Services

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17155349 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (15) ◽

pp. 5349

Author(s):

Muhamad Aljeaidi ◽

Claire Keen ◽

J. Simon Bell ◽

Tina Cooper ◽

Leonie Robson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Outcome ◽

South Australia ◽

Aged Care ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Residential Aged Care ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dry Eyes ◽

Care Services ◽

Medical Histories ◽

Possible Cause

Ocular issues are common, burdensome, and under-researched among residents of aged care services. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dry eyes or use of ocular lubricants among residents, and the possible association with systemic medications known or suspected to cause dry eyes. A cross-sectional study of 383 residents of six aged care services in South Australia was conducted. Data were extracted from participants’ medical histories, medication charts, and validated assessments. The main exposure was systemic medications known to cause, contribute to, or aggravate dry eyes. The primary outcome was documented dry eyes or regular administration of ocular lubricants. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between systemic medications and dry eyes/use of ocular lubricants. Dry eyes were documented for 53 (13.8%) residents and 98 (25.6%) residents were administered ocular lubricants. Overall, 116 (30.3%) residents had documented dry eyes/used ocular lubricants. Of these, half (n = 58) were taking a medication known to cause, contribute to, or aggravate dry eyes. Taking one or more medications listed as known to cause dry eyes was associated with having dry eyes/use of ocular lubricants (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.15–2.94). In sub-analyses, no individual medication was associated with dry eyes/use of ocular lubricants. Dry eyes and use of ocular lubricants are common in residential aged care. Our hypothesis generating findings suggest the need for further research into the clinical significance of systemic medications as a possible cause of dry eyes.

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Can transfers from residential aged care facilities to the Emergency Department be avoided through improved primary care services? Data from qualitative interviews

Australasian Journal on Ageing ◽

10.1111/j.1741-6612.2009.00415.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 61-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Glenn Arendts ◽

Tracy Reibel ◽

Jim Codde ◽

Jackie Frankel

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Aged Care ◽

Residential Aged Care ◽

Care Services ◽

Primary Care Services ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Aged Care Facilities ◽

Residential Aged Care Facilities

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Identification of patients with noncancer diseases for palliative care services

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951505050029 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 5-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

CAROL GRBICH ◽

IAN MADDOCKS ◽

DEBORAH PARKER ◽

MARGARET BROWN ◽

EILEEN WILLIS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Aged Care ◽

Residential Aged Care ◽

Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽

Care Services ◽

Aged Care Facilities ◽

Palliative Care Services ◽

Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽

End Stage ◽

Performance Scale

Objective: To identify criteria for measuring the eligibility of patients with end-stage noncancer diseases for palliative care services in Australian residential aged care facilities.Methods: No validated set if guidelines were available so five instruments were used: an adaptation of the American National Hospice Association Guidelines; a recent adaptation of the Karnofsky Performance Scale; the Modified Barthel Index; the Abbey Pain Score for assessment of people who are nonverbal and a Verbal Descriptor Scale, also for pain measurement. In addition, nutritional status and the presence of other problematic symptoms and their severity were also sought.Results: The adapted American National Hospice Association Guidelines provided an initial indicative framework and the other instruments were useful in providing confirmatory data for service eligibility and delivery.

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