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Introduction Methods Consumer and Community Involvement Results Conclusion Plain language summary The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of adapting and translating an evidence‐based occupational therapist‐delivered program shown to be effective in the community to residential aged care (RAC). The program aims to improve quality of care and quality of life for people living with dementia and the wellbeing of the family care partner.This study took place in a not‐for‐profit RAC home in Adelaide, South Australia. Mixed methods, specifically questionnaires, activity logs, focus group, and one‐on‐one interviews were used to evaluate the feasibility of the program implementation. Staff working in the participating home, occupational therapists trained to deliver the program, and residents and their family carer partners were included. Quantitative data were analysed using proportions, means, and standard deviations. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic approach.This study was conducted together with a consumer (person living with dementia) and a carer representative (family member of someone residing in RAC). These representatives provided input towards the study design, interpretation of study data, discussion of results, and recommendations for future consideration.Small changes to the program improved feasibility and acceptability for delivery in RAC. While the care home staff required added support during implementation, the intervention therapists felt that the program could be delivered in this setting. Family care partners of residents with dementia felt that the program may be better suited if provided upon entry to RAC or in early stages of dementia.Adapting a community‐based dementia care program to RAC can be safe and feasible. Program adaptations are necessary for feasibility. Further adaptations and evaluations of associated outcomes (related to residents with dementia and their family care partners) are needed to assess the program effectiveness in larger scale.Spending quality time with family members in residential aged care is important. However, many struggle to know what to say or do when visiting a family member who lives with dementia. Programs that teach families about how to communicate with people living with dementia, how to support them to take part in important everyday living activities, or how to understand why changes in behaviours may occur have not been available in residential aged care. This paper describes how we adapted one such evidence‐based program from community to residential aged care settings. We consulted with people living with dementia, carers, and families and found that the program could also be valuable in this care setting. Residential aged care staff described how the program is very different to what is usually available in residential aged care, but they were optimistic that with the right support, it could be a valuable way to support residents with dementia and their families. Family members of residents with dementia and therapists delivering the program felt that residents in early stages of living in residential aged care and/or early stages of dementia could benefit the most from these programs. We found that including family members in the intervention process can be useful and empowering for families and residents. Future work should also focus on involving other staff members caring for residents in the process. Communication between staff and families is the key for program delivery and success and treating each person as an individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with changes in cognition and changes in sensory function often feel uncomfortable in hospital and residential care home environments. Understanding the person's sensory preferences and aversions is important in providing high-quality care but current assessments have limitations. Our objective was to develop a tool to identify the sensory preferences and aversions of people experiencing cognitive changes while staying in hospital or residential care homes. The working group developed a tool comprising 11 items, which was named the "Sensory Preferences and Aversions questionnaire for the Care of older adults with dementia in residential Environments" (SPACE) tool. The tool was administered with 56 people with cognitive changes (mean age 78, mean MMSE score 16/30). Data elicited from the tool revealed the varied preferences of individuals, which demonstrates the importance of eliciting this information. For example, while 82% of participants liked listening to music, the remainder did not. Information elicited from the tool was useful in guiding care planning including identifying activities that may be of interest to the person. It was able to effectively elicit information about preferences, aversions, and strategies that could be applied when the person became distressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Most evidence for reablement comes from community-based interventions. Objective To determine the effect of reablement interventions provided in permanent residential aged care (PRAC) homes on residents' level of function in activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QoL). Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting PRAC homes. Subjects Residents in PRAC. Methods Six databases and grey literature were searched until November 2021. Quantitative studies involving a control group or pre-post evaluation were included. Outcomes of interest were the effectiveness of the reablement intervention on overall ADL or QoL in the last available follow-up. Results Twelve studies involving 2,620 residents were included. The reablement interventions varied; the primary focus areas were organisational approaches (e.g. educating staff; n  = 10) and improving physical function (e.g. increasing physical activity; n  = 9). Not all studies could be pooled in the meta-analysis due to reported data and heterogeneity. There was no significant effect of reablement intervention versus usual care on ADL function (five studies, standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.25 to 0.59, very low quality evidence). Reablement appeared more beneficial than usual care in improving QoL; however, the overall effect was not statistically significant (four studies, SMD: 0.73, 95% CI: −0.07 to 1.52; very low quality evidence). Conclusions Few studies focus on reablement in PRAC homes and their clinical heterogeneity is considerable. There is insufficient evidence for reablement in terms of improving ADL or QoL for residents in PRAC. Tools that are more sensitive to change may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of a 12‐week Exercise Physiology (EP) program for people living in a residential aged care facility. Methods: A within‐study pre‐ and postintervention design to calculate incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios per quality‐adjusted life years gained. A health service provider perspective was used. Results: Fifty‐nine participants enrolled in a 12‐week program. The program cost was A$514.30 per resident. At a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of A$64 000, the likelihood of being cost‐effective of the program is approximately 60%, due to a small increase in participants' quality of life, as reported by care staff. The model showed great variance, depending on who rated the participants' quality of life outcomes. Conclusion: It is uncertain that a 12‐week EP program is cost‐effective based on the evidence of the current trial. However, it appears that a low‐cost program can produce small improvements for residents in care facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the ageing of the world's population comes significant implications for nearly all sectors of society, including health and aged care spending. Health and aged care systems need to respond to the increasing need for services for older people. Occupational therapy is concerned with maintaining a person's functional independence and well‐being from preventative and treatment perspectives. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the costs and outcomes of occupational therapy for people with cognitive and/or functional decline. The searches for this review were conducted on 23 September 2016 and updated on 20 April 2017. Full economic evaluation studies, partial economic evaluations, randomised trials reporting estimates of resource use or costs associated with intervention(s) and comparator(s) and studies with pre‐ and post‐intervention cost comparators were included. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The type and duration of occupational therapy intervention in the included studies varied, ranging from one‐off assessments through to systematic multicomponent programmes. Results suggested that structured occupational therapy interventions which comprised of multiple consultations and engaged caregivers delivered better functional and economic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]