Resident and Family Carer Perspectives on the Impact of Allied Health Student Placements on Service Delivery to Residents in Northern NSW Aged Care Homes: A Qualitative Study.
Rosie Meares, Mohammad Hamiduzzaman, Vanette McLennan and 9 others
PMID 41797230WHAT IT FOUND
Residents and family carers described placements by physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nutrition and dietetics and social work students as adding care time and perceived gains in mobility, communication and mood.
They said short placements disrupted continuity.
Key findings
01Participants described one-on-one and group student sessions as valuable for personalised care and socialisation.
02Participants reported perceived physical improvements in balance, safe movement, speech, walking and strength, and family carers noticed better moods.
03Short placement blocks and handovers were said to disrupt continuity, and residents missed students when placements ended.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study reports perceptions, not measured clinical outcomes, so it cannot objectively confirm what student-integrated care contributed. Only twelve residents and five family carers were interviewed, from two rural homes, so the range of experiences is limited. Participants chose whether to be interviewed, and residents with moderate to advanced dementia or disabilities preventing them from sharing insights were excluded. The placements combined occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics, speech pathology and social work, plus individual and group care, so the contribution of any one discipline or component cannot be separated. Family carer participation was low, with five of twenty-two invited family carers taking part.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Aged Care Expansion Grant. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.