Using comprehensive assessments, care plans, and video vignettes to support admissions to residential respite care: The 3C Program
Sanka Amadoru

Date and Time

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Theme / Track

Health, medical and integrated care

Presentation Format

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. 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: 18 participant dyads took part in assessments and video vignettes, shared across 7 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.
AAG Symposium Title
Research and Innovation in Residential Respite

Keywords

Community, Dementia, Informal Caregivers, Innovation, Integrated Care

Authors

Frances Batchelor; Clinical Gerontology Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia;
Paul Yates; Medical and Cognitive Research Unit, Austin Health, Ivanhoe, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Christa Dang; Clinical Gerontology Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia;
Liam Borelli-Millott; Clinical Gerontology Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC