Malnutrition prevalence and nutrition issues in residential aged care facilities.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and investigate nutritional issues in a sample of older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Method: This study forms the descriptive component of a pretest post-test designed study conducted in eight RACFs. The Subject Global Assessment tool was used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in 350 residents.

Challenges associated with implementing an education program in a residential aged care setting.

The link between independence and well-being of older people in residential care is well established. This paper reports some challenges encountered during implementation of an education program designed to assist nursing staff to adopt an independence-supporting model of residential care. The education program was part of a larger project aimed at developing an example of best practice in supported care which promotes independence, well-being and community linkages.

University and industry partnerships: lessons from collaborative research.

Collaborative research between educational institutions and health agencies is being increasingly used as a method of achieving joint outcomes and bringing together theory and practice. This paper reports on the experiences of collaboration that arose out of just such a project carried out in a residential aged care setting. The research team included university academics, two nurses in management positions in the aged care facility and a senior research assistant.