Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review
Retention of care support workers in residential aged care facilities and home-based, domiciliary aged care is a global challenge, with rapid turnover, low job satisfaction, and poorly defined career pathways. A mixed-methods systematic review of the workforce literature was conducted to understand...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3008 |
| _version_ | 1797400196530831360 |
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| author | Claire Thwaites Jonathan P. McKercher Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh Irene Blackberry Julia F-M. Gilmartin-Thomas Nicholas F. Taylor Sharon L. Bourke Sally Fowler-Davis Susan Hammond Meg E. Morris |
| author_facet | Claire Thwaites Jonathan P. McKercher Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh Irene Blackberry Julia F-M. Gilmartin-Thomas Nicholas F. Taylor Sharon L. Bourke Sally Fowler-Davis Susan Hammond Meg E. Morris |
| author_sort | Claire Thwaites |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Retention of care support workers in residential aged care facilities and home-based, domiciliary aged care is a global challenge, with rapid turnover, low job satisfaction, and poorly defined career pathways. A mixed-methods systematic review of the workforce literature was conducted to understand the factors that attract and retain care staff across the aged care workforce. The search yielded 49 studies. Three studies tested education and training interventions with the aim of boosting workforce retention and the remaining 46 studies explored opinions and experiences of care workers in 20 quantitative, four mixed-methods and 22 qualitative studies. A range of factors impacted retention of aged care staff. Two broad themes emerged from the analysis: individual and organisational factors facilitating retention. Individual factors related to personal satisfaction with the role, positive relationships with other staff, families, and residents, and a cooperative workplace culture. Organisational factors included opportunities for on-the-job training and career development, appropriate wages, policies to prevent workplace injuries, and job stability. Understaffing was often cited as a factor associated with turnover, together with heavy workloads, stress, and low job satisfaction. With global concerns about the safety and quality of aged care services, this study presents the data associated with best practice for retaining aged care workers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:51:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99bb0e195ef4442fbea9526de906e8c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:51:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-99bb0e195ef4442fbea9526de906e8c02023-12-08T15:15:57ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-11-011123300810.3390/healthcare11233008Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic ReviewClaire Thwaites0Jonathan P. McKercher1Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh2Irene Blackberry3Julia F-M. Gilmartin-Thomas4Nicholas F. Taylor5Sharon L. Bourke6Sally Fowler-Davis7Susan Hammond8Meg E. Morris9Academic and Research Collaborative in Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaAcademic and Research Collaborative in Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaAustralian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaCare Economy and Research Institute and John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga, VIC 3086, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaAcademic and Research Collaborative in Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaAcademic and Research Collaborative in Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaAnglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UKVictorian Rehabilitation Centre, Healthscope, Glen Waverley, Melbourne, VIC 3150, AustraliaAcademic and Research Collaborative in Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaRetention of care support workers in residential aged care facilities and home-based, domiciliary aged care is a global challenge, with rapid turnover, low job satisfaction, and poorly defined career pathways. A mixed-methods systematic review of the workforce literature was conducted to understand the factors that attract and retain care staff across the aged care workforce. The search yielded 49 studies. Three studies tested education and training interventions with the aim of boosting workforce retention and the remaining 46 studies explored opinions and experiences of care workers in 20 quantitative, four mixed-methods and 22 qualitative studies. A range of factors impacted retention of aged care staff. Two broad themes emerged from the analysis: individual and organisational factors facilitating retention. Individual factors related to personal satisfaction with the role, positive relationships with other staff, families, and residents, and a cooperative workplace culture. Organisational factors included opportunities for on-the-job training and career development, appropriate wages, policies to prevent workplace injuries, and job stability. Understaffing was often cited as a factor associated with turnover, together with heavy workloads, stress, and low job satisfaction. With global concerns about the safety and quality of aged care services, this study presents the data associated with best practice for retaining aged care workers.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3008aged careworkforceretentionageingnursingallied health |
| spellingShingle | Claire Thwaites Jonathan P. McKercher Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh Irene Blackberry Julia F-M. Gilmartin-Thomas Nicholas F. Taylor Sharon L. Bourke Sally Fowler-Davis Susan Hammond Meg E. Morris Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review Healthcare aged care workforce retention ageing nursing allied health |
| title | Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | factors impacting retention of aged care workers a systematic review |
| topic | aged care workforce retention ageing nursing allied health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3008 |
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