I go home with a happy heart’. Enhancing community aged care services to sustain togetherness

Perspectives from Australian staff and clients

Bibliographic Data

ID12289813
AuthorsJoyce Siette (0000-0001-9568-5847, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Macquarie New South Wales Australia, corresponding author), Gilbert Knaggs (0000-0003-4710-6104, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Macquarie New South Wales Australia), Amy Nguyen (0000-0003-4603-564X, UNSW Sydney), Amy D Nguyen (Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Macquarie New South Wales Australia), Lindsey Brett (0000-0002-1141-2030, Department of Health Professions Macquarie University Macquarie NSW Australia), Mikaela Jorgensen (0000-0002-5490-0819, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Macquarie New South Wales Australia), Edwina Gow (UnitingCare Australia Canberra NSW Australia), Andrew Georgiou (0000-0002-7619-3668, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Macquarie New South Wales Australia)
Year2021
Volume30
Issue5
Pagese1746-e1755
Publication date2021-10-11
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hsc.13602
PMID34633727
OpenAlexW3206908548
LanguageEN
References cited37

Social participation is critical to the health and well-being of older adults, however, participation often declines with age. Research has identified that personal and environmental factors such as high socioeconomic status and accessible transportation are associated with higher levels of social participation. However, the barriers and facilitators to social participation experienced by older adults receiving community aged care services remains largely unexplored. This qualitative study aimed to generate context-rich data and identify the barriers and facilitators to effective community care services that can support older adults' participation in the community and contribute to individual well-being. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 40 community aged care clients and 21 staff members between January to July 2018 and thematic analysis was undertaken. Environmental factors, such as availability and accessibility of transportation services emerged as the most important factors influencing participation. Older age, self-attitude towards one's own functional ability and limited social networks were important personal factors affecting participation. Proactive aged care services (e.g., engaged staff, tailored activities) were reported to assist with continual engagement in aged care services. In contrast, the type, location and accessibility of the activity, associated costs and limited options for accessible transportation were key barriers to older adults' social participation. Pathways contributing to positive engagement were complex and variable, but personal well-being and local community resources emerged as important factors encouraging higher social participation. These findings are discussed in the context of the ongoing pandemic and implications for future aged care services are provided

Aging in place · Business · Context (archaeology · Environmental health · Family medicine · Focus group · Personal care · Political science · Population · Qualitative research · Social engagement · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Nursing · Psychology · Gerontology · Marketing

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