Aims: Residential respite care (RRC) is a form of short-term care provided by residential aged care homes (RACHs) for older people living at home who need carer support when their day-to-day carer is unavailable. Quality of RRC can be compromised by suboptimal communication, medical management, and information quality and access [1,2,3]. The 3C Program (Comprehensive assessment, Care plan, Clinical communication) was developed to address this gap using brief care plans and video vignettes to convey essential person-centred clinical information about people entering RRC. This initiative aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of these interventions.
Methods: Following a development phase to identify core content domains and refine processes, we recruited older people preparing to enter RRC and informal carers (participant dyads) in metropolitan Melbourne. Clinical summaries and video vignettes capturing care preferences, physical function, and key health information were shared with participating RACH staff. To evaluate acceptability, participant dyads, RACH staff from participating and non-participating facilities, and aged care professionals were invited to provide survey feedback informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.
Results: Thirteen video vignettes were produced with 27 carers and respite recipients, shared across six participating RACHs. Feedback and change management insights from participants and key stakeholders will be presented.
Conclusions: The 3C program may offer a novel, person-centred approach to support more effective clinical handover and improve continuity of care for older people entering RRC. Findings will inform recommendations for broader implementation of such tools and methods in RRC settings.