Residents with mild cognitive decline and family members report health students ‘enhance capacity of care’ and bring ‘a new breath of life’ in two aged care facilities in T asmania

Bibliographic Data

ID19506239
AuthorsKate‐Ellen J Elliott (Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre Faculty of Health University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia), Kate-Ellen Elliott (0000-0002-4726-5685, University of Tasmania), Michael J Annear (0000-0003-4474-2543, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre Faculty of Health University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia), Erica Bell (0000-0002-8483-8497, University of Tasmania), Erica J Bell (Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre Faculty of Health University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia), Andrew J Palmer, Andrew Palmer (0000-0002-9703-7891, Health Economic Department Menzies Research Institute Tasmania and Research Associate Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre Hobart Tas. Australia), Andrew L Robinson (School of Health Sciences Faculty of Health University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia)
Year2015
Volume18
Issue6
Pages1927-1940
Publication date2015-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.12236
PMID25041246
OpenAlexW2049217263
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited33

BACKGROUND: Care provided by student doctors and nurses is well received by patients in hospital and primary care settings. Whether the same is true for aged care residents of nursing homes with mild cognitive decline and their family members is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perspectives of aged care residents with mild cognitive decline and their family members on interdisciplinary student placements in two residential aged care facilities (RACF) in Tasmania. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A mixed methods design was employed with both qualitative and quantitative data collected. All participants were interviewed and completed a questionnaire on residents' quality of life, during or after a period of student placements in each facility (October-November, 2012). Qualitative data were coded for themes following a grounded theory approach, and quantitative data were analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: Twenty-one participants (13 residents and 8 family members) were recruited. Four themes were identified from the qualitative data and included (i) increased social interaction and facility vibrancy; (ii) community service and personal development, (iii) vulnerability and sensitivity (learning to care) and (iv) increased capacity and the confidence of enhanced care. Residents' quality of life was reported to be mostly good in the presence of the students, despite their high care needs. CONCLUSION: Residents with mild cognitive decline and their family members perceive a wide array of benefits of student provided care in RACFs including increased social interaction. Future quantitative research should focus on whether changes in care occur for residents as a result of student involvement

Aged care · Cognition · Family medicine · Focus group · Long-term care · Psychiatry · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Frailty in Older Adults · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Medicine · Nursing · Nursing education and management · Psychology · Gerontology

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