Abstract
BackgroundThe protective, custodial, task-oriented care provided in residential aged care facilitates decreases health and wellbeing of residents. The aim of the study was to conduct a feasibility study of LifeFul – a 12 month reablement program in residential aged care.MethodsLifeFul was developed based on systematic reviews of reablement and staff behaviour change in residential aged care, and in consultation with aged care providers, consumers and clinicians. LifeFul includes: engaging and supporting facility leaders to facilitate organisational change, procedural changes including dedicated rostering, assigning each resident a ‘focus’ carer and focusing on the psychosocial care of residents part of handovers and staff training. The study was conducted in three Australian residential aged care facilities. A pre-post mixed methods design was used to evaluate recruitment and retention, fidelity and adherence, acceptability, enablers and barriers and suitability of outcome measures for the program.ResultsEighty of 146 residents agreed to participate at baseline and 69 of these were followed up at 12 months. One hundred and four of 157 staff participated at baseline and 85 of 123 who were still working at the facilities participated at 12 months. Staff perceived the program to be acceptable, barriers included having insufficient time, having insufficient staff, negative attitudes, misunderstanding new procedures, and lack of sufficient leadership support. Quantitative data were promising in regards to residents’ depression symptoms, functioning and social care related quality of life.ConclusionIt is feasible to deliver and evaluate LifeFul. The program could be improved through increased leadership training and support, and by focusing efforts on residents having a ‘best week’ rather than on completing a document each handover.Trial registrationRegistered prospectively on 22nd January 2016 on ANZCTR369802.
Highlights
The protective, custodial, task-oriented care provided in residential aged care facilitates decreases health and wellbeing of residents
Reablement approaches are being trialed in the UK, Netherlands and New Zealand [16]
Recruitment and retention of residents and staff All 146 residents living at baseline in the selected units were approached to be part of the evaluation of the program and 80 residents (54.8%) consented to participate
Summary
The protective, custodial, task-oriented care provided in residential aged care facilitates decreases health and wellbeing of residents. The protective, custodial and task-oriented model of care provided in residential aged care has been reported to have a deleterious impact on aged care residents, including excessive disability, poor self -care [1, 2], functional decline, decreased physical activity and deconditioning [3]. Preferences of older people support a reablement approach and relationship-focused model of care. Aged care policy has begun to emphasize reablement approaches. The Australian Productivity Commission recommended that older Australians receive a flexible range of care and support services that meet their individual needs and that emphasize reablement and rehabilitation [17]. The Commonwealth Home Support Program has a focus on wellness, reablement and restorative care and seeks to actively promote independence [18]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
