Abstract
In Long-Term Care (LTC), evidence and practice are independently spinning in their own fields, and as a result, the voices and insights of those who know best — the daily interactions, routines, and habits of residents—are not heard. We are proposing building Communities of Practice (CoP) that would redirect current practice models in long-term care by strengthening communication and relevance of evidence into practice. An existing gap in such research is the lack of practitioner exposure to evidence that would benefit their organization, their staff, and their residents. In essence, each are gatekeeping their own domains where researchers and practitioners do not commonly connect with each other. Approaching gerontology through the lens of disruptive innovation opens new possibilities to reimagine and enhance care. This qualitative case study serves as an intervention for an effective CoP model to be implemented on a larger scale in long-term care facilities. A CoP uses implementation science as a structured approach to effectively translate and integrate evidence-based practices and innovations into routine care. Implementation science helps CoPs identify barriers and facilitators in the real-world setting, adapt strategies to local contexts, and evaluate impact on care processes and outcomes. Creating CoPs would be a steppingstone to decreasing existing polarization between researchers and practitioners, allowing each of their voices to be heard thus democratizing knowledge. The work of CoPs aims to mitigate the gatekeeper effect which is needed for a paradigm shift to improve and strengthen care practices for better outcomes.
Presenters
Donna AlexanderLong Term Care Administration Program Coordinator, Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences (LDES), The College of Education, Health & Human Services (EHHS), Kent State University, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Ensuring Quality Long-Term Care
KEYWORDS
GATEKEEPER EFFECTS, WHOSE VOICES ARE HEARD, INTERDISCIPLINARY, DOMAINS, POLARIZATION
