Abstract
We present results from evaluating a toolkit (e-learning, guide, and questions) for residential aged care (RAC) staff to have conversations and collect data about resident social connection. Codesigned with staff and residents, the toolkit is designed to facilitate conversations between staff and residents and drive personalised social care planning. Globally, social isolation and loneliness in older age is a societal concern. Across RAC, people are often uprooted from their former communities and located in institutions where biomedical health is prioritised over social and emotional wellbeing. With social care planning tending to consist of a ‘one size fits all’ approach, there is an urgent need for robust social connection tools that collect useful data to enable and support resident social connection. We evaluated toolkit implementation at 4 RAC settings in 2024, using repeated wellbeing and satisfaction surveys with 86 residents, and repeated satisfaction surveys with 29 staff. Sixteen residents and 16 staff were interviewed. Quantitative and qualitative analysis evaluates changes over time. The paper covers quantitative changes over time for: i) residents’ rapport with staff, control, being listened to, well-being and social connectedness and ii) staff: rapport with residents, knowledge about and comfort discussing, social connection, and understanding of residents’ needs. Implications: This is the first Australian study evaluating tools to enable social connection in RAC. The Toolkit is innovative and efficient in addressing social connection to support resident physical and mental health.
Presenters
Jasmine KnoxResearch Associate, Social Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Social connection, Well-being, Older people, Residential aged care
