Sleep Training for Aged Care Providers
As we age, our sleep and circadian rhythm (body clock) changes. In later life, disrupted sleep becomes more common and impacts people's physical and mental wellbeing. Finding ways to prevent and reduce poor sleep as we get older is something that affects us all.
In Australia, around 193,000 people engage in permanent or respite residential care, the majority of which are over 85 years old, and are women (see more). While poor sleep is common among older adults, aged care workers receive little to no training in sleep health, meaning that people go unsupported.
Through my role at Monash University, I developed and delivered sleep training for aged care staff at Anglicare Australia. This included sleep education, assessment methods and practical strategies to support sleep health in elderly residents.
This training resulted in significant improvements in aged care workers' sleep health knowledge, and their confidence and preparedness in supporting residents to sleep better.
This project took a systemic approach to addressing sleep health in older people by supporting staff to provide better, personalised care, enabling an understanding that sleep health and wellbeing is a social responsibility.
Further results will be added in time.
Education. Partnership. Access.
