​​Lynda McArdle​

Chief Operating Officer, ​​ARIIA​

​​The Asia Pacific Aged Care Hub (APACH) is a capacity building initiative aimed at improving aged care across the Asia Pacific region, through a collaboration between Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA), Flinders University College of Business, Government, and Law and the Caring Futures Institute, with funding support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. APACH brings together experts, practitioners, and policymakers to share insights, best practices, and learnings.

​During August and September 2023, APACH hosted a group of 15 aged care specialists from countries including India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. These experts participated in workshops, guest lectures, think-tank sessions, and industry visits to aged care homes and government health departments across Australia.

​Over two weeks, APACH fellows experienced Australian models of best practice in aged care firsthand. They learned about workforce capability requirements and the adoption of technology based on evidence-based practices from the Australian context. The commonality across all regions is that older people desire relationship-based, person-centered care. APACH aims to enhance this approach by sharing successful strategies and fostering regional collaboration.

​There is a focus on building networks of influence and developing communication and collaboration skills to build partnerships across multiple sectors and countries. By sharing knowledge and understanding, APACH contributes to better care outcomes for older adults.

​Building on the knowledge already shared, the APACH International Policy Forum was hosted at Ramaiah Medical College in Bangalore, India, on the 16th and 17th of May, 2024.

​The program highlights included keynote addresses by renowned experts, interactive workshops, poster presentations, engaging panel discussions, and networking opportunities between students, researchers, professionals, academics, and policymakers in the aged care sector. It provided a platform for showcasing research, projects, and innovations in aged care and contributed to the development of the aged care sector in the Asia Pacific region through knowledge sharing and collaboration.

​By bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds to share, learn and innovate, APACH aims to elevate aged care standards and create a brighter future for older adults across the Asia Pacific.

​To learn more, please visit the ARIIA website: https://www.ariia.org.au/asia-pacific-aged-care-hub-apach or the APACH International Policy Forum website: https://www.apachintlforum.net/ 

*The views and opinions expressed in Knowledge Blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ARIIA, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

​​Dr Janine Margarita Dizon​

​​Research Fellow (Knowledge & Implementation Hub)
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia, Flinders University

​​The Knowledge and Implementation Hub (the Hub) formed a User Reference Group (URG) to understand how its users access and use information, as well as provide feedback on improving the Hub. URG members represented user groups including aged care providers, allied health professionals, nurses, care workers, older people and their families/carers. Two online meetings were held in 2023.

​The conversations in our first meeting were on these three key themes: sources of information, accessing online information, and challenges and enablers in accessing and using information.

​We found URG members search various information sources, including the Internet, social media platforms, traditional (paper-based) and training sessions. Web-based sources included search engines (Google) and websites of trusted organisations (i.e., Dementia Training Australia). When brief information is required, some URG members prefer social media platforms (i.e., Facebook), with textbooks, professional development programs or training/education sessions, and personal communication with supervisors or leaders being other information sources. Managers, Allied Health professionals and nurses working in facilities access online information using computers or laptops. Community and care workers use their mobile phones to access online information.

​Challenges in accessing online information sources were also discussed. We found that an overwhelming choice of available information, poor/unstable Internet connections, and database subscriptions are common barriers to access. At point-of-care, availability of the supervisor for consultation and the limited to a lack of practical guidance on 'how to do the work' were seen as challenges, especially in remote care settings. These challenges, if addressed, can turn into enablers.

​We discussed three key themes in our second meeting: the Hubs positive features, interactive challenges and recommendations for improvement.

​URG members liked the Hub's appearance, with a clean, clear webpage structure that conveys positive ageing in featured imagery. The Hub is perceived as an excellent source of evidence-based information about Australian aged care, considering the complexity of the work without being prescriptive. It has a diverse collection of credible resources specific to the different roles of the aged care worker. Members also reported the Hub as having a user-friendly interface (navigation and information flow) and can be accessed using different device types (i.e., desktops, tablets and mobile phones). However, usability and navigation of pages can be quite challenging if a person is not used to the structure of the Hub.

​Improving the Hub user experience requires tailoring the content to the setting and practice for aged care workers' specific role in providing care. URG members recommended interactive toolkits, outcome measures lists, curation of commonly asked questions (and their answers) and improvements to search and functionality.

​Our URG members are valued contributors, who continually help us improve the Hub through their feedback. We are reviewing the Hub, its relationship with the wider ARIIA organisation and its stakeholders, and the improvements to be prioritised. We aim to give our users the best information and user experience suited to their needs.

*The views and opinions expressed in Knowledge Blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ARIIA, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

​​Christy Hunt

Workforce Development Project Manager​, ELDAC Project

​​Managing risk and providing services that allow the resident to lead a self-determined and self-fulfilling life can sometimes be challenging for staff. The ELDAC Managing Risk Toolkit has been designed for health professionals and care staff providing palliative care and advance care planning for older people living in residential care with advanced life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers. It provides information and guidance on managing risk at the end of life for people living in residential aged care and their families.

​The Managing Risk Toolkit comprises a series of resources that aim to build understanding and capability to improve the end-of-life experiences of aged care residents. Related resources cover the topics of Nutrition and Hydration, Medication Management and Transfers of residents between care settings and towards the end of life.

​The Toolkit resource has been informed by a review of contemporary Australian and international literature including authoritative sources on the Australian policy, legal and practice environment. Additionally, nurses from different aged care settings participated in three focus groups offering their perspectives, with experts from within the ELDAC network then reviewing the Toolkit content.

​Effective governance and risk management are critical to safe, effective, appropriate and quality aged care. Aged care providers are expected to identify, manage and continuously review risks to aged care consumers and others - including maintaining a risk management system. The ELDAC Managing Risk Toolkit provides resources to help staff to:

• ​Identify and assess potential risks,
• ​Respond to and monitor identified risks,
• ​Record and then report risks.

​Working in residential aged care and clinical governance requires understanding and using your organisation’s risk management system and ensuring the system guides your practice. This creates a connected, inclusive, holistic approach to risk management across the organisation. While the risks to residents at the end of life may change in the palliative care context, the systems and governance to support risk management will not.

*The views and opinions expressed in Knowledge Blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ARIIA, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.