Accessing care summaries at point-of-care: Implementation of mobile devices for personal carers in aged care

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-138
Author(s):  
Rachel E Brimelow ◽  
Annie Gibney ◽  
Suzanne Meakin ◽  
Judy A Wollin
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Network Speed ◽  
Perceived Helpfulness

Continued development of mobile technology now allows access to information at the point-of-care. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of one such tool on a mobile device, from the carer perspective. Caregivers across 12 aged-care facilities were supplied mobile devices to access a Picture Care Plan (PCP), a specific tool designed around the role of the personal carer. An anonymous questionnaire was subsequently completed by 85 carers with questions relating to participants’ experience. Perceived helpfulness of the PCP at the point-of-care was high (87%). A significant number of participants believed the use of the PCP increased resident safety and quality of care (76%). Practical components related to the carrying of the device, network speed and the requirement to maintain communication with senior members of staff to ascertain updates were also expressed by participants. Findings suggest that staff are receptive to adoption of mobile devices to access care directives at the point-of-care and that the technology is useful.

scholarly journals Inadequate completion of advance care directives by individuals with dementia: national audit of health and aged care facilities

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002767
Author(s):  
Jamie Bryant ◽  
Marcus Sellars ◽  
Craig Sinclair ◽  
Karen Detering ◽  
Kimberly Buck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Advance Care Directives ◽  
Advance Care

Objectives(i) Describe the prevalence and type of advance care directives (ACDs) and other advance care planning (ACP) documentation completed by persons with dementia, healthcare providers and others on behalf of a person with dementia; (ii) identify the personal and ACP programme characteristics associated with having ACP documentation in the health record; (iii) identify the personal and ACP programme characteristics associated with having a self-completed ACD.MethodsA multicentre audit was undertaken in Australian hospitals, general practices and residential aged care facilities. Auditors extracted demographic and ACP data from the records of eligible patients. ACP programme characteristics were provided by a site representative. Logistic and multinomial regression were used respectively to examine the factors associated with completion of any ACP documentation, and self-completion of an ACD by persons with dementia.ResultsA total of 1388 people with dementia (33.2%) from 96 sites were included. Overall, 60.8% (n=844) had ACP documentation; 31.6% (n=438) had a self-completed ACD and 29.3% (n=406) had an ACP document completed by a health professional or someone else on their behalf. Older participants were more likely to have ACP documented. Multivariate analyses indicated the odds of having self-completed ACP documents, compared with no advance care plan or ACP completed by someone else, were significantly influenced by age, country of birth, setting and whether the site had ACP training, policies or guidelines.DiscussionWhile 60% of people with dementia had some form of ACP documentation, only half of the cases in which ACP was documented included an ACD completed by the person themselves.

Enhancing palliative care in rural Australia: the residential aged care setting

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Mitchell ◽  
Caroline Nicholson ◽  
Keith McDonald ◽  
Anne Bucetti
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Advance Care

The delivery of palliative care in residential aged care communities is challenging, even more so in rural areas due to workforce ageing and shortages. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) assess the needs of, and quality of palliative care delivered to residents of 16 residential aged care facilities in rural southern Australia; and (ii) identify the needs of care staff to facilitate the delivery of quality palliative care. A cross-sectional survey of all residents, assessing the degree of functional limitation, stage of palliative care, and the presence of several quality indicators was conducted. Separate focus groups of care staff and relatives of residents sought information on the quality of care delivered, perceived strengths and weaknesses of the care delivered, and education and training needs. Quality palliative care in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) is hampered by workforce shortages, with low ratios of registered nurses, limited access to general practitioners after hours, and some communication difficulties. Some staff reported low confidence in technical and psychosocial aspects of care, especially for relatives. Relatives described mostly appropriate care, while acknowledging workload constraints. Most residents whose condition was unstable, deteriorating or terminal received advance care planning, though family expectations and unwillingness to discuss end-of-life care did tend to delay planning. Unstable residents with a reasonable prognosis were more likely to be transferred to hospital than terminally ill residents. Palliative care in participating RACFs appears to be adequate. Provision of targeted education for health care providers and implementation of protocols for advance care planning and end-of life care pathways will enhance this care.

Elder Sexual Abuse and Sexual Freedom in Faith-based Residential Care Facilities: Ethical Dilemmas, and Institutional Integrity

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-273
Author(s):  
Virginia Miller ◽  
Seumas Miller ◽  
Bruce Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Sexual Freedom ◽  
Residential Care Facilities ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Marital Sex

Abstract The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in residential care facilities are complicated by the existence of many residents with cognitive impairments of a kind that compromise their ability to make decisions based on informed consent. The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in faith-based residential care facilities, in particular, are further complicated by restrictive, theologically based, ethical principles pertaining to sexual activity – for instance, prohibitions on extra-marital sex and the use of prostitutes by residents. The tension that arises must necessarily deal with the integrity of faith-based aged-care facilities and current legislation that promotes the rights of age-care residents to sexual freedoms. In the midst of much public concern about the level and quality of institutional age care this particular aspect seldom attracts notice. It nevertheless exposes a quandary to do with how ought public theology and ethics respond.

The Role of Knowledge Management (KM) in Aged Care Informatics

Big Data ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 1668-1686
Author(s):  
Margee Hume ◽  
Craig Hume ◽  
Paul Johnston ◽  
Jeffrey Soar ◽  
Jon Whitty
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Definition Of

Aged care is projected to be the fastest-growing sector within the health and community care industries (Reynolds, 2009). Strengthening the care-giving workforce, compliance, delivery, and technology is not only vital to our social infrastructure and improving the quality of care, but also has the potential to drive long-term economic growth and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This chapter examines the role of Knowledge Management (KM) in aged care organizations to assist in the delivery of aged care. With limited research related to KM in aged care, this chapter advances knowledge and offers a unique view of KM from the perspective of 22 aged care stakeholders. Using in-depth interviewing, this chapter explores the definition of knowledge in aged care facilities, the importance of knowledge planning, capture, and diffusion for accreditation purposes, and offers recommendations for the development of sustainable knowledge management practice and development.

scholarly journals A multi-organisation aged care emergency service for acute care management of older residents in aged care facilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Conway ◽  
Sophie Dilworth ◽  
Carolyn Hullick ◽  
Jacqueline Hewitt ◽  
Catherine Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Local Health ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

This case study describes a multi-organisation aged care emergency (ACE) service. The service was designed to enable point-of-care assessment and management for older people in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Design of the ACE service involved consultation and engagement of multiple key stakeholders. The ACE service was implemented in a large geographical region of a single Medicare Local (ML) in New South Wales, Australia. The service was developed over several phases. A case control pilot evaluation of one emergency department (ED) and four RACFs revealed a 16% reduction in presentations to the ED as well as reductions in admission to the hospital following ED presentation. Following initial pilot work, the ACE service transitioned across another five EDs and 85 RACFs in the local health district. The service has now been implemented in a further 10 sites (six metropolitan and four rural EDs) across New South Wales. Ongoing evaluation of the implementation continues to show positive outcomes. The ACE service offers a model shown to reduce ED presentations and admissions from RACFs, and provide quality care with a focus on the needs of the older person.

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