Supporting Aged Care Worker Wellbeing: A Qualitative Document Analysis of the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
Sharon Stoddart, Kate Churruca, Maree Saba, Janet C Long, Peter D. Hibbert, Amy Nguyen, Viviana Wuthrich, Bronwyn Newman, Leonard C. Gray, Hilda Bø Lyng, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Louise A EllisABSTRACT
Aged care work is physically and emotionally demanding. Workers can feel disempowered, vulnerable and at increased risk of experiencing work‐related stress. This in turn can result in sub‐optimal care and staff shortages. This study aimed to investigate what provisions exist within Australia's strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards to support aged care worker safety and wellbeing. Document analysis was conducted on the new Aged Care Quality Standards document and 13 ancillary documents. Three provisions were identified, presented as themes: (1) Keeping aged care workers safe; (2) Workforce needs; and (3) Empowering aged care workers. The standards address important issues like work conditions and make provisions for workers' voice to be heard, thus supporting worker empowerment. However, there is a need for focussed attention to aged care workers' safety that further considers the complexity of aged care work and includes plans that are both targeted and that address systemic issues to support aged care workers' wellbeing. Additionally, issues related to leadership competence and worker protections from violence are under‐emphasised.