Crowley at the forefront of wound management
As people age, there is an increase in incidence of skin tears, pressure ulcers and chronic leg and foot ulcers, affecting 1-3% of adults aged over 65 years and approximately 25% of aged care residents.
To address this, a project team involving Residential Aged Care Facilities and researchers at Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation has initiated The Champions for Skin Integrity project which aims to promote the implementation of evidence based prevention, assessment and management of wounds for residents in aged care facilities.
The project team involves a consortium of seven Residential Aged Care facilities in NSW and Queensland and the School of Nursing & Midwifery and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology.
Crowley, the only aged care facility from NSW, was invited to join the project team and has been utilising current research and best practice guidelines to develop strategies to enable staff to provide, and residents to choose, evidence based care.
Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley said that Crowley is honoured to be part of this important project and it is a fantastic opportunity for staff and residents to be at the forefront of skin integrity care.
The Champions for Skin Integrity project aims to provide education for both residents and staff, including nutrition, hydration and skin care for prevention of wounds.
“Crowley staff will be working closely with the researchers at QUT and collaborating with six other leading residential aged care facilities in Queensland to identify best practices in wound management,” said Mr Penhey.
“Over the next two years Crowley will develop a set of strategies to encourage uptake of evidence based clinical care guidelines for use by all aged care facilities across Australia.”
Mr Penhey said that the Champions for Skin Integrity project will culminate in a national resource for implementation in aged care facilities throughout Australia.
The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care Program.