Loss, Unresolved Trauma and Gaps in Staff Knowledge: A Qualitative Study on Older Adults Living in Residential Aged Care

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of mental health concerns among those who live in residential aged care, many residential aged care facilities (RACFs) provide little by way of psychological support. Drawing on qualitative data obtained from interviews with residents from across 15 RACFs in Victoria, Australia, this article adds to understandings about the diversity and impact of mental health challenges experienced by residents, and gaps in the knowledge of staff about how to address such. Thus, it also offers evidence of the urgent need for RACFs to provide residents both better access to specialist mental health practitioners and training to care staff on mental health issues.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest

Additional information

Funding

The original research and data collection was funded by the Victorian Department of Health 10.13039/501100003747. The secondary analysis undertaken here and the writing of this paper was funded by La Trobe University.