International Perspectives on Residential Aged Care

Author(s):  
Nasreen A. Sadeq ◽  
Victor Molinari

The need for facilities that provide residential aged care is expected to increase significantly in the near future as the global population ages at an unprecedented rate. Many older adults will need to be placed in a residential care setting, such as an assisted living facility (ALF) or nursing home, when their caregivers can no longer effectively manage serious medical or psychiatric conditions at home. Although the types of residential care settings worldwide vary considerably, long-term care residents (LTC) and staff benefit from environmental and cultural changes in LTC settings. Unlike traditional medical models of LTC, culture change advocates for a shift toward holistic, person-centered care that takes place in homelike environments and accounts for the psychosocial needs of residents. Carving out a role for family members and training professional caregivers to address behavioral problems and quality-of-life issues remain a challenge. In LTC settings, preliminary research indicates that implementing person-centered changes addressing resident and caregiver needs may lead to better health outcomes, as well as increased satisfaction among patients, families, and staff. With the burgeoning world population of older adults, it is incumbent that they be provided with optimal humane culturally sensitive care.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phoebe Chan ◽  
Sunil Bhar ◽  
Tanya E. Davison ◽  
Colleen Doyle ◽  
Bob G. Knight ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The prevalence rates of depressive and anxiety disorders are high in residential aged care settings. Older adults in such settings might be prone to these disorders because of losses associated with transitioning to residential care, uncertainty about the future, as well as a decline in personal autonomy, health, and cognition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating late-life depression and anxiety. However, there remains a dearth of studies examining CBT in residential settings compared with community settings. Typically, older adults living in residential settings have higher care needs than those living in the community. To date, no systematic reviews have been conducted on the content and the delivery characteristics of CBT for older adults living in residential aged care settings. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to describe the systematic review protocol on the characteristics of CBT for depression and/or anxiety for older adults living in residential aged care settings. METHODS This protocol was developed in compliance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). Studies that fulfill the inclusion criteria will be identified by systematically searching relevant electronic databases, reference lists, and citation indexes. In addition, the PRISMA flowchart will be used to record the selection process. A pilot-tested data collection form will be used to extract and record data from the included studies. Two reviewers will be involved in screening the titles and abstracts of retrieved records, screening the full text of potentially relevant reports, and extracting data. Then, the delivery and content characteristics of different CBT programs of the included studies, where available, will be summarized in a table. Furthermore, the Downs and Black checklist will be used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS Systematic searches will commence in May 2018, and data extraction is expected to commence in July 2018. Data analyses and writing will happen in October 2018. CONCLUSIONS In this section, the limitations of the systematic review will be outlined. Clinical implications for treating late-life depression and/or anxiety, and implications for residential care facilities will be discussed. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO 42017080113; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=80113 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70dV4Qf54) REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER RR1-10.2196/9902


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy M Archibald ◽  
Michael T Lawless ◽  
Rachel C Ambagtsheer ◽  
Alison L Kitson

Abstract Background and Objectives despite growing support for the clinical application of frailty, including regular frailty screening for older adults, little is known about how older adults perceive frailty screening. The purpose of this study was to examine older adults’ perspectives on frailty screening to inform knowledge translation and service improvements for older adults with frailty. Research Design interpretive descriptive qualitative design. Participants a total of 39 non-frail (18%), pre-frail (33%) and frail or very frail (49%) South Australian older adults aged 62–99 years, sampled from community, assisted living and residential aged care settings. Methods seven focus groups were conducted and analysed by two independent investigators using inductive thematic analysis. Results three themes were identified. First, older adults question the necessity and logic of an objective frailty measure. Second, older adults believe any efforts at frailty screening need to culminate in an action. Third, older adults emphasise that frailty screening needs to be conducted sensitively given negative perceptions of the term frailty and the potential adverse effects of frailty labelling. Discussion and Implications previous screening experiences and underlying beliefs about the nature of frailty as inevitable shaped openness to, and acceptance of, frailty screening. Findings correspond with previous research illuminating the lack of public awareness of frailty and the nascent stage of frailty screening implementation. Incorporating consumer perspectives, along with perspectives of other stakeholder groups when considering implementing frailty screening, is likely to impact uptake and optimise suitability—important considerations in person-centred care provision.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. e309-e328
Author(s):  
Lara Menn ◽  
Sabine Corsten ◽  
Norina Lauer ◽  
Sarah J Wallace

Abstract Background and Objectives Older adults in long-term residential aged care experience loneliness and reduced quality of life (QoL). Biographical approaches use the recall of the past events to increase self-efficacy, promote acceptance, and improve QoL. The aim of the systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of biographical approaches in improving the QoL of older adults in long-term residential aged care. Research Design and Methods This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, using databases Medline, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. A 2-phase search strategy was used to identify research literature relating to the use of biographical interventions. Narrative analysis was used to synthesize results. Results Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria for this review, comprising both group and individual interventions. The findings were inconsistent. Subjective elements of QoL of older adults improved in a narrow majority of the studies. Of a total of 21 outcomes investigated in group interventions, 11 resulted in significant improvements in QoL. The 16 outcomes of the individual interventions resulted in 10 significant improvements. The most significant influence was observed in life satisfaction. Group reminiscence also had a particularly strong influence on self-esteem. Discussion and Implications Although benefits were observed, it remains unclear why some interventions led to improvements in subjective elements of QoL and others did not. Exploration of the participant perspective through qualitative data collection and more detailed description of interventions in future studies could lead to a better understanding of the treatment components that are related to improved outcomes for older adults.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meg Polacsek ◽  
Marta Woolford

Abstract BackgroundThe move from home into residential care is one of the most stressful life experiences for older adults. ‘Relocation stress’ is a significant risk factor for anxiety and/or depression in aged care residents. Whether long-term or recently diagnosed, these mood disorders are associated with a decline in overall well-being, daily functioning and independence. The mental health needs of older adults are often poorly recognised and supported, including during the transition into residential care. Despite growing interest in how to facilitate this major life transition, few studies have taken the perspective of multiple stakeholders. The aim of this study was to explore resident, relative and staff experiences of the transition into residential aged care, and to identify strategies to support the mental health of older adults at this time. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 aged care residents, relatives and staff, between January and April 2021. Participants were selected using purposive and convenience sampling. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed inductively and grouped into themes. ResultsResults were distilled into three main categories related to the overall transition experience, residents’ mental health needs and strategies to support residents’ mental health. A novel contribution of this study relates to the need to address a broad misunderstanding of the role of pastoral care and subsequent under-utilisation of a potentially valuable resource. ConclusionsBy describing transition experiences and the resources to support residents’ mental health, findings of this study provide practical, ‘real world’ suggestions for reducing relocation stress. New resources developed from the findings include guides, checklists and short question-and-answer films, in which current residents and staff describe strategies to support mental health and overall quality of life. Similar resources could be used to support transitions in other care settings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
Caz Hales ◽  
◽  
Isaac Amankwaa ◽  
Lesley Gray ◽  
Helen Rook ◽  
...  

Little is known about the level of service demand and preparedness of Aotearoa New Zealand’s aged residential care facilities to care for older adults with extreme obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the current state of bariatric (extreme obesity) services within aged residential care. An environmental scan was conducted to identify bariatric resident needs and gaps in service provision to inform the development of policy and service provision. Observational and interview data from three facilities in Aotearoa New Zealand was collected along with a retrospective review of national resident admissions over a three-year period. Poor environmental design that included infrastructure deficiencies and financial barriers impacted on the ability to deliver safe and equitable care for this population. Specifically, equipment procurement and safe staffing ratios were of concern to the sector. There is an increasing need for bariatric level support within aged care, necessitating more equipment and staff, adaptation of physical care environments, and enhanced funding. Significant investment is required to address care concerns of older adults with extreme obesity at government and organisational levels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 733-734
Author(s):  
Lindsay Peterson ◽  
David Dosa ◽  
Patricia D’Antonio

Abstract Preparedness of residents in long-term care (LTC) in the face of hurricane emergencies is a contested and largely unanswered question. Our prior work involving the U.S. Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005-08 showed that exposure to various storms on nursing home (NH) residents resulted in significantly more deaths than reported by health care officials. This work also highlighted that evacuation of NH residents, compared to sheltering in place, was independently associated with morbidity and mortality. Hurricane Irma struck Florida on Sept. 10, 2017, prompting the evacuation of thousands of NH and assisted living community (ALC) residents. This symposium will discuss the effects of Hurricane Irma on vulnerable older adults residing in NHs and ALCs using mixed quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The first presentation will discuss morbidity and mortality of NH residents exposed to Hurricane Irma and will stratify by long stay/short stay status and hospice enrollment. The second presentation will discuss improvements and continued barriers to NH preparedness based on interviews with 30 administrators following Hurricane Irma. Using a novel methodology to identify residents of ALCs using secondary data sources, the third presentation will document AL resident morbidity and mortality risk following Hurricane Irma. The final presentation will highlight results of interviews with 70 stakeholders from small and large ALCs concerning the hurricane experiences of residents, including those with dementia. This symposium offers a multi-faceted view of a disaster’s effects on LTC residents across Florida, including novel data from the NH environment and lesser-examined ALCs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 6-6
Author(s):  
Sarah Marrs ◽  
Jennifer Inker ◽  
Madeline McIntyre ◽  
Leland Waters ◽  
Tracey Gendron

Abstract Senior mentoring programs have been established that provide medical students exposure to a community-dwelling older adult mentor. The goal of these programs is to expose students to healthy older adults, increase knowledge of geriatrics, and prepare them to care for an aging population. However, even while participating in a senior mentoring program, health professions students still demonstrate some discriminatory language towards older adults (e.g., Gendron, Inker, & Welleford, 2018). In fact, research suggests ageist practices occur, intentionally or not, among all health professions and within assisted living and long-term care facilities (e.g., Bowling, 1999; Dobbs et al., 2008; Kane & Kane, 2005). There is reason to believe that how we feel about other older adults is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves as aging individuals. As part of an evaluation of a Senior Mentoring program, we found that students’ attitudes towards older adults were not significantly improved (t (92) = .38, p = .70). To further explore this, we collected subsequent qualitative data. Specifically, we asked students to respond to the open-ended prompt before and after completing their senior mentoring program: How do you feel about your own aging? Our findings have revealed just how complex students’ views towards aging and elderhood are, pointing to a need to develop a theoretical framework for how these views are formed. Thus, the results of this qualitative grounded theory study illustrate the stages of development medical students’ progress through as they come to accept themselves as aging humans.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 704-704
Author(s):  
Yuchi Young ◽  
Barbara Resnick

Abstract The world population is aging. The proportion of the population over 60 will nearly double from 12% in 2015 to 22% in 2050. Global life expectancy has more than doubled from 31 years in 1900 to 72.6 years in 2019. The need for long-term care (LTC) services is expanding with the same rapidity. A comprehensive response is needed to address the needs of older adults. Learning from health systems in other countries enables health systems to incorporate best long-term care practices to fit each country and its culture. This symposium aims to compare long-term care policies and services in Taiwan, Singapore, and the USA where significant growth in aging populations is evidenced. In 2025, the aging population will be 20% in Taiwan, 20% in Singapore and 18 % in the USA. In the case of Taiwan, it has moved from aging society status to aged society, and to super-aged society in 27 years. Such accelerated rate of aging in Taiwan is unparalleled when compared to European countries and the United States. In response to this dramatic change, Taiwan has passed long-term care legislation that expands services to care for older adults, and developed person-centered health care that integrates acute and long-term care services. Some preliminary results related to access, care and patterns of utilization will be shared in the symposium. International Comparisons of Healthy Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e046030
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Saredakis ◽  
Hannah A D Keage ◽  
Megan Corlis ◽  
Tobias Loetscher

IntroductionApathy is a prevalent neuropsychiatric symptom for older adults residing in aged care. Left untreated, apathy has been associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risk of mortality. Reminiscence therapy is commonly used in aged care and has demonstrated to reduce apathy. Traditional methods of reminiscence use physical objects and more recently technology including tablets and laptop computers have demonstrated potential. Virtual reality (VR) has successfully been used to treat psychological disorders; however, there is little evidence on using VR for behavioural symptoms such as apathy in older adults. Using VR to deliver reminiscence therapy provides an immersive experience, and readily available applications provide access to a large range of content allowing easier delivery of therapy over traditional forms of therapy. This study aims to identify changes in apathy after a reminiscence therapy intervention using head-mounted displays (HMDs).Methods and analysisParticipants will be allocated to one of three groups; reminiscence therapy using VR; an active control using a laptop computer or physical items and a passive control. A total of 45 participants will be recruited from residential aged care (15 in each group). The three groups will be compared at baseline and follow-up. The primary outcome is apathy, and secondary outcomes include cognition and depression. Side effects from using HMDs will also be examined in the VR group. Primary and secondary outcomes at baseline and follow-up will be analysed using linear mixed modelling.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics Committee. The results from this study will be disseminated through manuscript publications and national/international conferences.Trial registration numberACTRN12619001510134.


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