Characteristics of Geriatric Practice Settings that Attract and Retain Physical Therapists in the SNF/ICF Practice Setting

Abstract

The US population is aging due to increases in life expectancy and the aging of the baby boomer generation. The elderly use more medical services than any other group in the population and account for 90% of nursing home use. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of geriatric practice settings that attract and retain physical therapists (PTs) in the skilled nursing facility/intermediate care facility (SNF/ICF) practice setting. The study was an electronic survey of active PT members of the Section on Geriatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) with a current e-mail address. The electronic survey yielded 768 completed surveys, resulting in an overall response rate of 17% and a 4.74% response rate from PTs in the SNF/ICF practice setting. A majority of therapists (73.2%) were employed full-time and 58.2% had 16 or more years of professional experience. Therapists were attracted to a geriatric practice setting for the patient population. A majority of therapists continue to work in a geriatric practice setting because: they take pride in their work, the relationships they have with patients and families, salary, relationships with peers, autonomous work decisions, relationships they have within the facility, control over their schedule, benefits, and able to handle the increased demands of documentation. All survey responses were statistically significant p < 0.01. Significant relationships (p < 0.05) were found between professional experience and method of introduction to a geriatric practice setting; years working in geriatric setting and attraction to a geriatric practice setting and relationships with patients and families, and relationships within the facility; current employment status and relationships with peer, control over schedule, and benefits. Even though PTs practicing in an SNF/ICF setting have the highest median salary according to the APTA, salary is not the primary factor in the recruitment and retainment of PTs to an SNF/ICF setting.