Objective: This paper provides an overview of a research project that investigated strategies to address the workforce crisis currently threatening the provision of health and residential care services to Australia's rapidly ageing population. Underpinning this project's development was the need to understand why, in the face of high levels of sustained mature age unemployment (and under‐employment) and the urgent need for staff in residential and community aged care, mature aged people do not consider, or are unable to undertake, further education and training to gain the necessary skills to work in this particular area. Methods: This descriptive and exploratory study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Informed by a critical review of the literature, data were collected from interviews with four participants (aged 40 years or older) as they undertook specific education and training in aged care services, and from a survey of 145 randomly selected mature aged unemployed (and under‐employed) persons. The survey and specific education and training program were located in South Australia. Results: Findings from this study suggest that, for the mature aged unemployed person, age represents the single most significant barrier to obtaining paid employment. Evidence also exists to suggest a positive relationship between ageing and a person's willingness to undertake formal education, and/or to consider the work of caring for older people as a reasonable career option. However, the extent to which other factors such as health, time spent in unemployment (or under‐employment), type of qualification, and the psychological impact of being unemployed might have had an effect remains unclear. Conclusion: This study challenges us to rethink how we value ageing, mature aged unemployment, mature aged education and aged care work. The findings have implications for the future of mature aged job seekers and the provision of adequate staffing for residential and community aged care services.
Much has been written about the link between practice and research in the nursing and health literature. The literature from fields of practice relating to care of the older person is no exception. Enhancing best practice to effectively meet the needs and desires of older people, and provide an optimal working environment for those providing that care, requires sustainable synergies between research and practice. However, the perception of a gap(s) between 'what we know' and 'what we do' persists in the writing in relation to the care of older people, as it does in healthcare more broadly. Rather than attempting to provide an exhaustive descriptive review of the literature, this paper reports on, and provides an analysis of, two broad thematic areas that are reflected in much of the writing about research and practice relevant to the care of older people. The first thematic area relates to literature that presupposes a linear/passive view of research uptake. The second thematic area includes literature that conceptualizes research uptake as dynamic/active. The discussion focuses on what these thematic areas can tell us about enhancing and optimizing synergies and connections between research and practice relating to care of the older person.
In this paper we focus at the level of individual project to explore aspects of the nexus between research and practice. Using a research project that sought to explore and understand care transitions for older people as the vehicle for our discussion, we examine how the process by which a research project itself is thought about, conceptualized, developed and conducted influences knowledge translation and ways to get research into practice, and conversely practice into research. Processes and strategies we engaged in throughout this research project to promote the transfer of knowledge both among and between researchers, practitioners and the wider practice community are highlighted.
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