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Open Access 03-02-2025 | Original Research Article

Routine Quality-of-Life Measurement in Residential Aged Care: Staff, Resident, and Family Perspectives

Authors: Andrew Simon Gilbert, Frances Batchelor, Nancy Devlin, Briony Dow, Brendan Mulhern, Rosalie Viney, Tessa Peasgood, Lidia Engel

Published in: The Patient - Patient-Centered Outcomes Research

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Abstract

Background and objectives

There is interest in routinely measuring quality of life (QoL) in aged care homes, evidenced by the Australian Government’s implementation of QoL as a mandatory quality indicator. This study explores views of aged care staff, residents, and family members on the benefits, challenges, and feasibility of implementing routine QoL measures.

Methods

Qualitative data were gathered to explore staff, resident, and family perspectives on QoL measurement in aged care homes, including purpose, benefits, implementation, and best practice. Two staff workshops were conducted at different aged care homes, and semi-structured interviews were held with 29 proxies (9 family members and 20 staff) and 24 residents. Workshops and interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed via a qualitative interpretive approach using NVivo software.

Results

Analysis yielded four key themes: (1) benefits of routine QoL measurement; (2) challenges in implementation; (3) best practice for collecting surveys; (4) validity concerns. Identified benefits included potentially improved care, monitoring service performance, and informing family members. Staff participants recommended integrating measures into existing care planning and having oversight from a registered nurse. Participants identified potential implementation challenges, including administrative burden, time and resourcing constraints, conflicts of interest, and resistance from staff, providers, and residents.

Conclusions

This study identifies potential benefits to implementing routine QoL measurement in residential aged care homes. To maximise these benefits, it is important to consider how measurement can be integrated in ways that contribute to existing care planning and practices.
Appendix
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Footnotes
1
The term ‘aged care’ here reflects usage in Australian Government legislation (Aged Care Act 1997), which is defined as personal care or nursing care specifically for older people (aged 65+ years), delivered in a residential facility or in the person’s home. This study focuses exclusively on residential facilities.
 
2
A lifestyle coordinator is typically a non-clinical leadership position in Australian aged care homes. Lifestyle coordinators maintain residents’ quality of life by planning and organising recreational activities, events, and outings.
 
3
A vulgar Australian slang term, which here implies that some staff members lack the ability or integrity to perform their job well.
 
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Routine Quality-of-Life Measurement in Residential Aged Care: Staff, Resident, and Family Perspectives
Authors
Andrew Simon Gilbert
Frances Batchelor
Nancy Devlin
Briony Dow
Brendan Mulhern
Rosalie Viney
Tessa Peasgood
Lidia Engel
Publication date
03-02-2025
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
The Patient - Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Print ISSN: 1178-1653
Electronic ISSN: 1178-1661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-025-00729-7

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