Improving emotional wellbeing for older people living in residential aged care

137 Pages·2011·1.08 MB·English

Well for Life
Improving emotional wellbeing
for older people

In residential aged care
Well for Life
Improving emotional wellbeing
for older people
In residential aged care
March 2011
Acknowledgements
National Ageing Research Institute, HDG Consulting Group, Well for Life
participants and project workers, Reference Group members, Dr Catherine Barrett
and Department of Health staff.
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format,
such as large print or audio, please telephone [phone], using the TTY – National
Relay Service if necessary (133 677) or email <
About this resource
Well for Life started with a focus on improving the nutrition and physical activity of older people
in a range of settings. The Department of Health has further enhanced Well for Life by including a
focus on improving emotional wellbeing. Emotional wellbeing is essential to a happy and healthy
life. Activities to enhance emotional wellbeing strengthen an individual’s capacity to maintain their
independence, autonomy and general wellness.
A combined focus on the three elements of physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing
supports the Victorian Department of Health’s priority of promoting physical and mental health and
wellbeing among older people. Well for Life is an integrated health promotion approach. Agencies
use a range of interventions and partnerships to achieve positive outcomes for individuals and the
community.
This information resource aims to promote Well for Life goals with a focus on emotional wellbeing
for older people living in residential care. It provides a framework to assist and facilitate discussion
and staff development about improving older people’s emotional wellbeing. It is aimed at staff and
managers for the practical application of identifying barriers and challenges to people’s emotional
wellbeing and to identify actions to overcome them.
Physical The information resource complements the physical activity and nutrition sections of the Well for Life:
activity Improving nutrition and physical activity for residents of aged care facilities resource kit (Department
and of Human Services, 2003). The resource has been reviewed and tested by Well for Life projects
nutrition funded to implement physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing strategies.
This information resource includes:
• practical guidelines for identifying barriers to people’s emotional wellbeing
• suggestions about how to recognise opportunities to encourage emotional wellbeing
• a series of help sheets with practical strategies
• an education package.
Service providers are encouraged to make full use of the information resource as an easy-to-use,
practical and effective tool for supporting the emotional wellbeing of older people living in residential
aged care.
Contents
Section 1: Introduction 1
1.1 Purpose 1
1.2 Resources 1
Section 2: Emotional wellbeing concepts and principles 3
2.1 Concepts and defnitions 3
2.2 Guiding principles for emotional wellbeing 4
2.3 Understanding diversity 5
2.4 Individual emotional wellbeing 6
Section 3: Facilitator’s guide 9
3.1 Responsibilities 9
3.2 The process 9
3.3 Good practice checklist for emotional wellbeing 15
Section 4: Help sheets 17
Help sheet 25: Strategies to combat ageism 19
Help sheet 26: How staff beneft from Well for Life 21
Help sheet 27: Staff communication strategies 23
Help sheet 28: Emotional wellbeing of staff 25
Help sheet 29: Accessing health professionals 27
Help sheet 30: Volunteers in aged care services 29
Help sheet 31: Introducing change within residential facilities 31
Help sheet 32: Workplace learning 33
Help sheet 33: Communication and emotional wellbeing 35
Help sheet 34: Hydration 39
Help sheet 35: Food and emotional wellbeing 41
Help sheet 36: Physical activity and emotional wellbeing 43
Help sheet 37: Promoting independence and autonomy 45
Help sheet 38: Purposeful activities 47
Help sheet 39: Social relationships and connections 49
Help sheet 40: Involving family members, carers and friends 51
Help sheet 41: Resilience and coping skills 53
Help sheet 42: Sexual expression 55
Help sheet 43: Spirituality and wellbeing 59
Help sheet 44: Loss and grief 63
Help sheet 45: Health, hygiene and comfort 65
Help sheet 46: Understanding sensory changes and the impact of the environment 67
Help sheet 47: Using sensory stimulation 69
Help sheet 48: Light—seasonal affective disorder 71
Help sheet 49: Privacy and confdentiality 73
Section 5: Well for Life emotional wellbeing—Education package 75
5.1 Aims and objectives 75
5.2 How to use the education package 76
5.3 Participants 76
5.4 Preparation 77
Module one: Understanding emotional wellbeing 79
Module one: Presentation and notes 80
Module one: Handouts 89
Module one: Case studies 91
Module two: Understanding ageism and action planning 95
Module two: Presentation and notes 96
Module two: Case studies 105
Module two: Handouts 108
Section 6: Resource and contact list 111
References 125
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Section 1: Introduction
1.1 Purpose
Used in conjunction with Well for Life: Improving nutrition and physical activity in residential aged
care facilities, this information resource will assist managers and staff to promote nutrition, physical
activity and emotional wellbeing opportunities for older people in their care.
The intention of the information resource is to generate discussion about emotional wellbeing and
focus on ways in which the emotional wellbeing of older people can be actively enhanced through
service provision.
The information resource provides a self-assessment and continuous improvement process to
enable service provider staff and managers to:
• recognise the benefts of engaging in discussion about emotional wellbeing
• better understand the benefts of emotional wellbeing
• identify and consider current emotional wellbeing practice
• gain experience in applying self-assessment and continual improvement tools and checklists
• generate ideas and action to improve opportunities for emotional wellbeing
• develop and implement strategies to enhance the emotional wellbeing of older people.
1.2 Resources
This document contains the following resources:
• An introduction and overview of the principles of emotional health and wellbeing for older people
living in residential aged care.
• A facilitator’s guide to use in leading discussion about emotional wellbeing for older people
living in residential aged care. The facilitator’s guide includes: case studies to illustrate key
issues; a good practice checklist for physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing for
self-assessment and planning; and an action plan template for recording agreed actions.
• A series of help sheets outlining key issues and practical considerations for the emotional
wellbeing of older people living in residential aged care, which can be used in conjunction with
the facilitator’s guide and educational resources. All or some of the help sheets can be selected
for use depending on the service setting and context.
• Educational resources including a session format, PowerPoint presentation, handouts
and speakers notes. Module one provides an overview of emotional wellbeing of older people,
its principles and practice, and module two explores the issue of ageism.
This document is complimentary to other residential aged care services resources requirements
already in existence, such as Strengthening care outcomes for residents with evidence and quality
indicators. See <http://www.health.vic.gov.au/agedcare/services/score>
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