Better health and ageing for all Australians

Encouraging Better Practice in Aged Care Initiative

EBPRAC Round 1

In this section:

Overview

EBPRAC Round 1 projects commenced in December 2007 and concluded in December 2009. Five projects each established a consortium which comprised of a number of residential aged care facilities, researchers and educators. Thirty-nine residential aged care facilities across all states were involved. The projects focused on improving evidence-based clinical practice in the areas of:

Better Practice Seminars

Results of Round 1 projects were presented at the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency’s Better Practice Seminars in 2010. For more information visit the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd website

Round 1 Projects

Oral Health

Lead Organisation - South Australian Dental Service

The Better Oral Health in Residential Care project was administered by the South Australian Dental Service. The project aimed to identify better practice to enable residents of aged care facilities to have regular oral health assessments and ensure daily oral hygiene was maintained by implementing a health care plan which identified if there was a need for dental treatment. Six residential aged care facilities located in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales were involved in the project.

Training and resources developed under project were rolled out nationally to all Australian Government funded residential aged care facilities in 2010. Training occurred under the Nursing Home Oral and Dental Health Plan and aimed to provide an increased awareness of oral hygiene issues for staff in daily contact with residents.

A more detailed summary is available for the Better Oral Health in Residential Care project (PDF 274 KB).

Alternatively, an HTML version of Better Oral Health in Residential Care project is also available.

For more information visit Better Oral Health in Residential Care training.
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Medication Management focusing on PRN (as required) Medicines

Lead Organisation - Repatriation General Hospital Drugs and Therapeutics Information Service (DATIS)

The Time for Evidenced based Action around PRN Medicines in Aged Care (TEAM Aged Care) project addressed holistic management of medicine administration through the implementation of best practice in medication management guidelines in aged care facilities with a focus on 'as required' (PRN) medicines.

The project focused on medication management of PRN medicines for pain, constipation, behaviours of concern and sleep. Information and guidelines about appropriate medication use relating to analgesics, laxatives, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines from the medical literature were reviewed by the project. Ten residential aged care facilities located in South Australia and Victoria were involved in the project.

A more detailed summary is available for the TEAM Aged Care project (PDF 225 KB).

Alternatively, an HTML version of TEAM Aged Care project is also available.
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Falls Management

Lead Organisation - National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

The STAR project, an individualised, facilitated and sustainable approach to implementing the evidence in preventing falls in residential aged care facilities was administered by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and aimed to minimise falls and fall-related injuries in residential aged care facilities by implementing best practice guidelines in falls prevention in residential aged care facilities. The action research approach was a key element of building capacity in falls prevention. Other project components that supported this aim included training of ‘falls resource nurses’ and general staff, and staff involvement in project activities such as audits. Nine residential aged care facilities located in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania were involved in the project.

A more detailed summary is available for the STAR project (PDF 266 KB).

Alternatively, an HTML version of STAR project is also available.

Since the project ended, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care Facilities and Community Care 2009.

The Department distributed a copy of the guidebook to all Australian Government funded residential aged care facilities in August 2010.

For more information visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
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Nutrition and Hydration

Lead Organisation - University of Newcastle

The Implementing best practice nutrition and hydration support in residential aged care project aimed to improve nutrition and hydration practices in residential aged care facilities thereby improving the health outcomes and quality of life for residents. The project referenced the Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care Facilities. A manual and training package was developed as part of the project. Nine residential aged care facilities located in New South Wales were involved in the project.

A more detailed summary is available for the Implementing best practice nutrition and hydration support in residential aged care project (PDF 264 KB).

Alternatively, an HTML version of Implementing best practice nutrition and hydration support in residential aged care project is also available.
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Pain Management

Lead Organisation - National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

The Implementation of sustainable evidence-based practice for the assessment and management of pain in residential aged care facilities project was administered by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). This project undertook a comprehensive education and training program aimed at embedding evidence-based practice in pain management into the routine clinical care practices of residential aged care facilities. Five residential aged care facilities located in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia were involved in the project.

A more detailed summary is also available of the Implementation of sustainable evidence-based practice for the assessment and management of pain in residential aged care facilities project (PDF 272 KB).

Alternatively, an HTML version of Implementation of sustainable evidence-based practice for the assessment and management of pain in residential aged care facilities project is also available.

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