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Alternative staffing structures in a clustered domestic model of residential aged care in Australia
Harrison, Stephanie L. Dyer, Suzanne M. Milte, Rachel Liu, Enwu Gnanamanickam, Emmanuel S. Crotty, Maria
Harrison, Stephanie L.
Dyer, Suzanne M.
Milte, Rachel
Liu, Enwu
Gnanamanickam, Emmanuel S.
Crotty, Maria
Abstract
Objective A clustered domestic model of residential aged care has been associated with better consumer‐rated quality of care. Our objective was to examine differences in staffing structures between clustered domestic and standard models. Methods A cross‐sectional study involving 541 individuals living in 17 Australian not‐for‐profit residential aged care homes. Results Four of the homes offered dementia‐specific clustered domestic models of care with higher personal care attendant (PCA) hours‐per‐resident‐per‐day (mean [SD] 2.43 [0.29] vs. 1.74 [0.46], P < 0.001), slightly higher direct care hours‐per‐resident‐per‐day (2.66 [0.35] vs. 2.58 [0.44], P = 0.006), higher staff training costs ($1492 [258] vs. $989 [928], P < 0.001) and lower registered/enrolled nurse hours‐per‐resident‐per‐day (0.23 [0.10] vs. 0.85 [0.17], P < 0.001) compared to standard models. Conclusions An Australian clustered domestic model of care had higher PCA hours, more staff training and more direct care time compared to standard models. Further research to determine optimal staffing structures within alternative models of care is warranted. Impact A dementia‐specific clustered domestic model of care within aged care facilities, which has previously been associated with better consumer‐rated quality of care has higher staff training costs and higher direct care hours. Further research on alternative staffing structures in alternative models of residential aged care should be undertaken.
Keywords
health services for the aged, nursing homes, nursing staff
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Australasian Journal on Ageing
Book
Volume
38
Issue
Suppl 2
Page Range
68-74
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open