Evidence-Based Practice: Implementing REIS Findings in South African Aged Care Facilities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Older adults in South African Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) face environments with insufficient occupational opportunities.
• Practitioners in developing nations struggle to offer therapeutic services amidst occupational deprivation in RACFs.
• This context highlights a critical need for improving the quality of life and engagement for residents in aged care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and enablers for implementing recommendations from the Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS).
• To assess the effectiveness of the REIS in evaluating and improving residential environments for older adults.
• To inform strategies for enhancing occupational engagement in aged care settings.

Main Methods:

• A two-phased embedded mixed-methods approach was utilized.
• Phase 1 involved administering the Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS).
• Phase 2 used the nominal group technique with leadership staff to explore implementation factors, followed by thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Findings revealed an organizational culture dominated by top-down management and a medicalized care model.
• Financial and operational constraints significantly impacted the implementation of improvements.
• The study identified key challenges within the existing care structures.

Conclusions:

• The Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS) is a valuable tool for holistic environmental assessment in RACFs.
• Implementing REIS findings can foster collaborative approaches to organizational culture change.
• Enhancing organizational culture through REIS can cultivate greater occupational opportunities for residents in aged care.