Concerns from the worldwide ageing population and evidence of poor-quality aged care services have highlighted the need to develop innovative models of aged care which are acceptable to older people, economically sustainable and are safe.Reablement is a relatively new model for aged care that aims to support older people's desires to age independently in their usual place of residence and decrease dependency on aged care services. This qualitative evidence synthesis aimed to explore the experiences of older people and their carers (formal and informal) towards a reablement model of community aged care to ensure services are considerate of older people's needs. A systematic search was conducted across six electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar) from 1990 to September 2021. Qualitative research exploring older people and their carers' experiences and perceptions of the reablement model used in community aged care services were identified. Nineteen articles were included in the synthesis following the screening of 668 abstracts and 56 full texts. Included articles were subject to quality assessment, and the data were synthesised using thematic synthesis. Three analytical themes were generated from the thematic synthesis; (i) reablement is a shift in approach to aged care, (ii) difficulties in developing tangible and meaningful reablement goals, (iii) reablement improves health and well-being. Reablement is generally well-received by older people and their informal carers. However, poor engagement from older people did occur when they had a poor understanding of their role in reablement and when they had not been fully consulted regarding their reablement goals. Current and future reablement services for older people should focus on ensuring an awareness of the processes and principles of reablement and collaboration between practitioner, the older person and their carer when developing goals to increase engagement.

Background The ageing of Australia's population is placing significant pressure on health and social aged care services due to increasing demand for the provision and a relative decrease in the healthcare workforce. Reablement has been introduced by the Australian Commonwealth Government and is aimed at increasing older people's independence to age in place and decreasing dependency on aged care services. To date, research on reablement practice has focussed on interventions from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and nurses, with no data available on podiatrist involvement. The aim of this research was to explore Australian podiatrists' understanding and current practice of implementing a reablement approach to older clients. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted with Australian podiatrists who had experience working with older people and were familiar with the reablement model. Podiatrists were recruited after completing a prior web-based survey. Promotion of the web-based survey was via professional networks and Twitter. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis. Results Fourteen podiatrists were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three themes were generated: (i) Thinking and practicing differently, (ii) Reconciling practice with competing pressures, (ii) Funding influences on podiatry practice and reablement. Rather than identifying practice examples that demonstrate involvement by podiatrists in older peoples reablement, our analysis identified system level barriers which gave negative influence on podiatrists' ability to implement the reablement model. Conclusions The participants in this study considered their role in reablement for older people was limited. While some participants felt unskilled to implement the reablement model, it is factors such as inadequate funding arrangements and clients' perceptions of podiatrists' roles have a more significant impact on current practice and are seemingly more intractable.

Background: The ageing of Australia’s population is placing significant pressure on health and social aged care services due to an increasing demand for services and a relative decrease in the healthcare workforce. Reablement has been introduced by the Australian Commonwealth Government and is aimed at increasing older people's independence to age in place and decrease dependency on aged care services. To date research on reablement practice has focussed on interventions from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and nurses, with no data available on podiatrist involvement. The aim of this research was to explore how Australian podiatrists can align their practice with the reablement model in aged care. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with podiatrists from a diverse range of clinical settings. An interview guide was utilised which focussed on podiatrists’ current clinical practice when working with older people and to discuss how they believed the reablement model might work in the podiatry discipline. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis.Results: 14 podiatrists were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged; (i) It’s not what I was taught, “I am just a podiatrist”, (ii) Reconciling practice with competing pressures, (ii) Funding influences on podiatry practice and reablement. Podiatrists revealed that they deliver their care through a biomedical model and lack knowledge and skills in the application of the reablement model of care. Rather than finding practice examples that demonstrate involvement by podiatrists in older peoples reablement, our analysis identified a series of systemic barriers which predominantly inhibit the implementation of reablement from the podiatry discipline. Conclusions: Australian podiatrists considered their role in reablement for older people was limited. Some factors to improve podiatrists’ involvement in older peoples reablement could be addressed through training of of podiatrists in the application of holistic models of care such as reablement. However, factors such as inadequate funding arrangements involve wider health system reform and are seemingly more intractable.