Consumer directed care for residents with dementia
Professor Marita McCabe, together with colleagues from Deakin University, Queensland University of Technology and Wollongong University, is leading research funded by the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres, into using a Consumer Directed Care (CDC) model to increase the quality of life and quality of care of older persons with dementia living in residential care. This model will also enhance the knowledge and skill set of residential aged care staff in managing the implementation of CDC in the aged care sector. CDC provides the opportunity for a person with dementia to choose the services they want and so enjoy the best quality of life possible, as determined by their specific needs.
Australia is striving toward residential aged care (RAC) that is both centred on and directed by the consumer. CDC for persons with dementia living in RACs needs to depend on strong alliances between consumers and staff. RAC facilities need to be structured so that both the leadership and the organizational climate supports consumer directed care.
Currently Australia has no evidence-based training platform to develop or sustain CDC in RACs. Professor McCabe’s research addresses this gap using rigorous scientific methods to trial a NEW training approach for RAC staff: the Resident at the Centre of Care (RCC) Program. This program is a 6-session package targeting CDC principles, leadership and organizational factors and with measurements of the direct impact of RCC on the person with dementia, regarding their quality of life and satisfaction with care. Staff job satisfaction and relationships with residents is also evaluated. There will be also an economic evaluation to determine the cost-effectiveness of CDC in RACs. Significant positive outcomes are expected for both residents and staff in RAC facilities.