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Ideal versus actual levels of decision‐making in South Australian aged care resident committees
Author(s) -
Wilson Leah,
Kirby Neil
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2006.00152.x
Subject(s) - aged care , medicine , family medicine , nursing , gerontology
Objective: To investigate the level and types of decision‐making residents have in lo‐level residential aged care facility (RACF) resident committees and whether this is in line with the level and types desired by the residents.Method: Fifteen South Australian low‐level RACFs participated in the study, with a total of 107 resident committee members completing questionnaires.Results: Residents wanted to participate significantly more in decision‐making than they currently were, particularly in the areas of deciding on new activities, planning menus and making policies on safety hazards.Conclusion: The existence of resident committees did not ensure that residents participated in decision‐making to the extent that they wished. Resident committees would benefit from regular evaluation to determine whether residents are provided with opportunities to participate in decision‐making in areas that are important to them and to the levels they desire.