Workforce Dementia Training Needs and Preferences for Residential Aged Care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Dementia Care Research
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Residential aged care (RAC) facilities house a significant population of individuals living with dementia.
• Effective dementia care in RAC settings relies heavily on well-trained staff and volunteers.
• Current dementia training for RAC personnel may not adequately meet their needs or preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the dementia training needs and preferences of staff and volunteers in residential aged care.
• To identify specific knowledge gaps and desired training topics and delivery methods.
• To inform the development of a new Dementia Model of Care for RAC settings.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods action research study was conducted with Baptcare RAC homes.
• Surveys (n=241) assessed dementia knowledge and confidence, including validated tools like the CODE Scale and DKAS.
• Focus groups and interviews (n=50) explored current training, future preferences, and barriers to learning.

Main Results:

• Staff and volunteers reported moderate confidence but identified significant dementia knowledge gaps.
• Key desired training topics included person-centered care, dementia knowledge, behavior management, and understanding the resident experience.
• Preferred training approaches favored in-person, self-directed, peer-to-peer learning, and onboarding for new personnel over online methods.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced and targeted dementia training is essential for RAC staff and volunteers to improve care quality.
• Addressing identified needs and preferences, alongside overcoming training barriers, is crucial for workforce capacity building.
• This research directly informs the development of effective dementia care models within RAC environments.