Empowering Formal Caregivers in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly to Provide Safe Care – Intervention of the Community and Public Health Nurse

Abstract

Introduction

The current national demographic reality shows a significant aging of the population, with a growing number of elderly individuals residing in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), leading to an increased need for formal caregivers (FC). The literature indicates that the lack of skills among FCs in RCFE affects the quality of care provided, with direct impacts on resident safety. By assessing the knowledge level of formal caregivers, it was possible to structure an intervention aimed at empowering them.

Objective

Empowering formal caregivers in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly to provide safe care in the intervention area of a Community Care Unit (UCC).

Methods

The methodology applied was based on Health Planning grounded in Betty Neuman's theoretical framework, the Systems Theory. The foundation of the project based on scientific evidence was supported by a Scoping Review according to the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI. The tool used for the situational assessment was a questionnaire developed by the researchers and administered to formal caregivers to identify their training needs. A non-probabilistic convenience sample was comprised of 161 formal caregivers. To ensure compliance with all ethical, deontological, and methodological principles, this intervention project was developed following a favorable opinion from the Health Ethics Committee (HEC) under reference 51/CES/INV/2023.

Results

The situational assessment revealed a compromised caregiving capacity due to a lack of knowledge about the contents of the first aid kit, checking the first aid kit, procedures in case of an accident, first aid, and maintenance of the cold chain. Health Education and Health Communication were used as intervention strategies. Evaluation, based on process and outcome indicators, shows positive contributions to the empowerment of formal caregivers, reflected in 84% of caregivers identifying how to act in case of an accident, 94% identifying when to place someone in the recovery position, and 82% identifying the Basic Life Support algorithm.

Conclusion

This project contributed to the empowerment of formal caregivers through community nursing intervention, as well as providing insights into how to develop interventions with formal caregivers in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly to empower them to provide safe care.