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Identifying Key Components of a Well‐Being Program for Rural Aged Care Staff Managing Responsive Behaviours Through a Co‐Design Process

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Australasian Journal on Ageing

Published online on

Abstract

["Australasian Journal on Ageing, Volume 45, Issue 2, June 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\n\nObjective\nWith a growing older population, there is an increased need for aged care services. Care staff are a critical factor in delivering these services. The aim of this study was to identify the key components of a well‐being program for staff caring for older people with responsive behaviours in rural aged care homes.\n\n\nMethods\nA single co‐design session based on the seven integrated principles of World Café was hosted. Facility staff, organisational representatives and consumers were identified through purposive and snowball sampling. Facilitators led scenario‐based discussion on three topics: leadership, peer support and workplace practices. The academic literature synthesis conducted by researchers of the key components generated through co‐design identified those with evidence of benefit and local feasibility.\n\n\nResults\nTwelve participants attended the co‐design session. Key components identified were early ‘check‐ins’ by management, ad hoc peer debriefing, regular scheduled whole‐of‐facility debriefing, peer‐based rewards, conveying behaviour expectations, greater information on care recipients, fun workplace activities, team building and staff training. Two meso‐level components considered feasible to implement and evidence‐informed were: a peer supporter program and a structured all‐of‐facility debriefing.\n\n\nConclusions\nA co‐design process involving consumers and staff identified two evidence‐informed and feasible components of a well‐being program for rural aged care staff: peer support and a structured all‐of‐facility debriefing. This process, blending co‐design and evidence, has laid the foundation for a well‐being program that could achieve sustained, positive change.\n\n"]