scholarly journals Staff perceptions of families in rural residential aged care

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Kaye Elizabeth Ervin ◽  
Maddalena Cross ◽  
Alison Koschel
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Good Reason ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Family Participation ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Family ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Abstract:Objective – The aim of the project was to identify staff opinions of working with families rural in residential aged care. Method – Staff from 3 aged care facilities completed and returned a questionnaire on their opinion about working with families and family participation in aged care settings. Results – There was a 46.9% return rate, with 85% of staff reporting that families should be encouraged to participate in the care of their relatives. However, the findings also report 87% of staff perceived that family members were hostile without good reason and 76% report families were angry with aged care workers and undermined their treatment efforts. Conclusions – Family participation in aged care settings is essential for provision of person-centred care practices. The current negative perceptions of families expressed by rural aged care staff requires further research or at a minimum the use of a tool to monitor organisations performance in relations with families.  Key Words Aged care, Family participation, Person-centred care, Residential care, Staff/Family relationships 

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.

Person-centered care and engagement via technology of residents with dementia in aged care facilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2099-2103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita M. Y. Goh ◽  
Samantha M. Loi ◽  
Alissa Westphal ◽  
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Keyword(s):  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Person Centered Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

ABSTRACTTouchscreen technology (TT) is a resource that can improve the quality of life of residents with dementia, and care staff, in residential aged care facilities (RACF) through a person-centered care approach. To enable the use of TTs to engage and benefit people with dementia in RACFs, education is needed to explore how these devices may be used, what facilitates use, and how to address barriers. We sought to provide education and explore RACF staff views and barriers on using TT to engage their residents with dementia. An educational session on using TT with residents with dementia was given to staff from three long-term RACFs in Melbourne, Australia. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 17 staff members (personal care attendants, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, allied health clinicians, and domestic staff) who attended were administered questionnaires pre- and post-sessions. As a result of the education seminar, they were significantly more confident in their ability to use TT devices with residents. TT, and education to staff about its use with residents with dementia, is a useful strategy to enhance RACF staff knowledge and confidence, thereby enhancing the use of technology in RACFs in order to improve care standards in people with dementia.

Investigating the Impacts of Acculturation Stress on Migrant Care Workers in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 104365962094781
Author(s):  
Bola Adebayo ◽  
Pam Nichols ◽  
Matthew A. Albrecht ◽  
Bianca Brijnath ◽  
Karen Heslop
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Acculturation Stress ◽  
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Occupational Roles ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

Introduction: Migrant care workers are a growing portion of the aged care workforce in high-income countries. This study investigated the impacts of acculturation stress on the well-being of migrant care workers. Method: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted among migrant care workers ( n = 272) across five Australian states and one territory using the Riverside Acculturation Stress Inventory (RASI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21). Results: Acculturation stress was high ( M = 38.4; SD = 14.1; 38.9% scored ≥40 out of 75), but respondents scored in the normal to mild ranges (85% to 93%) on the DASS 21 scale. Enrolled and registered nurses had the highest acculturation stress levels when compared with other occupational roles. Ethnicity, F(4, 254) = 11.0, p < .001; occupational roles, F(3, 254) = 3.0, p = .03; and self-reported English proficiency, F(1, 254) = 4.17, p = .04, were statistically significant. Conclusions: Addressing acculturation stress may improve job satisfaction and retention among migrant care workers.

Challenges faced by residential aged care staff in decision-making for residents with dementia

Dementia ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 147130122092915
Author(s):  
Nadine Cameron ◽  
Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh ◽  
Michael Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽  
National Framework

Care staff in residential aged care facilities (nursing homes) in Australia are obligated, under the Australian National Framework for Action on Dementia 2015–2019, to support residents to exercise choice and make decisions. Research indicates, however, that care staff are often given little guidance regarding which residents’ decisions should be supported or how to make decisions on their behalf. This lack of guidance can result in a denial of residents’ rights and inconsistent treatment by staff, placing residents’ wellbeing at risk. Through providing an analysis of the responses of staff at RACFs in Victoria and Queensland to two case scenarios, this study seeks to provide some understanding of the difficulties staff face in supporting residents’ self-determination and their own need for greater organisational support.

How do care staff in residential aged care facilities conceptualise their non-verbal interactions with residents with dementia and what relevance has this for how residents’ preferences and capacity for decision-making are understood?

Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1364-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Cameron ◽  
Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh ◽  
Michael Bauer ◽  
Laura Tarzia
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Verbal Interactions ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

This paper considers the significance of how staff in residential aged care facilities interpret the non-verbal communication and behaviour of residents vis-a-vis their assessments of residents’ preferences and ability to participate in decision-making. It highlights the risks associated with staff members’ failure to interpret residents’ non-verbal communication and behaviour with reference to residents’ backgrounds and prior experiences. It also considers how non-verbal communication implemented by staff may impact residents’ emotional state and, as a consequence, decision-making abilities. Drawing on interview data with aged care staff from Queensland and Victoria, it demonstrates that care staff in residential facilities appear to rely heavily on non-verbal signals in assessing the decision-making capacity and preferences of residents with dementia. It also indicates that many staff fail to consider residents’ non-verbal communication and behaviour with due consideration of residents’ individual histories.

Promoting oral health care among people living in residential aged care facilities: Perceptions of care staff

Gerodontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy R. Villarosa ◽  
Sally Clark ◽  
Ariana C. Villarosa ◽  
Tiffany Patterson Norrie ◽  
Susan Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Perceptions Of Care

scholarly journals Career mentoring in aged care: Not all it seems

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-23
Author(s):  
Rosalie Coppin ◽  
Greg Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Career Experience ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Professional Registration

Understanding the nature of career mentoring is important for improving the career experience of aged care workers. This study explores the career mentoring behaviours of sponsorship, coaching, advocacy, challenging assignments, exposure and visibility in the residential aged care context. Interviews were conducted with 32 aged workers from several occupations within the care context. It was found that career mentoring in the aged care context was limited. The mentor behaviours of coaching, sponsorship and advocacy were limited and there was no opportunity in aged care to provide challenging assignments or promote exposure and visibility. Organisations and managers can facilitate learning and personal development by providing inclusive training for all workers regardless of the need to meet professional registration requirements. Learning needs to be continuous as careers and clinical techniques evolve. Extension of existing mentoring programmes to include all care workers would improve overall quality of care in residential aged care facilities.

scholarly journals Challenges associated with implementing an education program in a residential aged care setting

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Edwards ◽  
Helen Chapman ◽  
Elizabeth Forster ◽  
Deanne Gaskill ◽  
Paul Morrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residential Care ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Change In Practice ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

The link between independence and well-being of older people in residential care is well established. This paper reportssome challenges encountered during implementation of an education program designed to assist nursing staff to adoptan independence-supporting model of residential care. The education program was part of a larger project aimed atdeveloping an example of best practice in supported care which promotes independence, well-being and communitylinkages. Implementation of the program created many interesting challenges which were overcome by strategies andfacilitating forces such as support from management and some staff, and the collaborative nature of the project. Positiveoutcomes of the education program included increased awareness of, and change in, practice; increased staff-residentinteraction; and increased encouragement for residents to be independent and to engage with the wider community.Moreover, a facilitator manual - Promoting Independence: A Learning Resource for Aged Care Workers wassubsequently developed so that the program can be implemented in aged care facilities elsewhere.

How Residential Care Staff Conceptualize the Identities of Residents With Dementia and Its Relevance for Decision Making

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482095173
Author(s):  
Nadine Cameron ◽  
Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh ◽  
Michael Bauer ◽  
Laura Tarzia
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

The ways in which residential aged care staff conceptualize the identities of residents with dementia has significance for how they support them to make decisions and make decisions on their behalf. This article aims to further understand how staff in residential aged care facilities comprehend who residents “are.” Methods: This qualitative study draws on individual and group interview data with aged care staff from two Australian states concerning decision making for individuals with dementia. It identifies themes relevant to how staff refer to identity in relation to such residents. Results: Staff possess disparate ideas about what things comprise residents’ identities and, accordingly, which sources of knowledge are most relevant to learning about residents. Discussion: This article argues for the application of a multidimensional and temporally inclusive understanding of identity by those who provide care to people with dementia.

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