Understanding occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument: A qualitative study

Lora Calderone; Michelle Bissett; Matthew Molineux

doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12805

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Understanding occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument: A qualitative study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Understanding occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument: A qualitative study

Lora Calderone, Michelle Bissett and Matthew Molineux

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Vol.69(4), pp.447-455

08/2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12805

PMID: 35439846

Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications

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Abstract

older adults

residents

Aged Care Funding Instrument

occupational therapy

residential aged care

Australian occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities has been largely funded using the Aged Care Funding Instrument since March 2008. Literature indicates that the funding model constrains occupational therapy practice, impacting on therapists' and residents' experiences. In preparation for the implementation of the new funding model, the Australian National Aged Care Classification, it is timely to understand current practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument. The objectives were (1) to understand occupational therapists' experiences of working in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument; and (2) to explore occupational therapists' perceptions of how the Aged Care Funding Instrument influences residents' occupational performance and engagement. A phenomenological research design was employed to understand therapists' perspectives. Data were collected from seven occupational therapists using a demographic form and a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using a modified Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological data analysis. Ethics approval was obtained. Two themes emerged from the study's findings: a restrictive practice context that disables residents; and a restrictive practice context that inhibits occupational therapists. The first theme describes how the Aged Care Funding Instrument constrains practice and incentivises the disabling of residents. The second theme describes the challenges faced by occupational therapists throughout their journey of employment under the funding model. Occupational therapists perceived that the Aged Care Funding Instrument restricts occupational therapy practice and prevents residents from living occupationally rich lives. With the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification in late 2022, it is crucial that national associations and employers advocate to policymakers to ensure future practice reflects the profession's unique knowledge and skills to optimise the health and wellbeing of residents.

Details

Title: Understanding occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument: A qualitative study
Creators: Lora Calderone - Kids and Community, Gold Coast, Australia.
Michelle Bissett - Southern Cross University
Matthew Molineux - Griffith University
Publication Details: Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Vol.69(4), pp.447-455
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Grant note: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University
Identifiers: 991013019925502368
Copyright: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.© 2022 The Authors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Occupational Therapy Australia.
Academic Unit: Faculty of Health
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Understanding occupational therapy practice in residential aged care facilities under the Aged Care Funding Instrument: A qualitative study

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