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

OBJECTIVE: With 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. METHODS: A 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. RESULTS: Twelve 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. CONCLUSIONS: A 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.