'Bringing the outside world in': Enriching social connection through health student placements in a teaching aged care facility

Background: Older adults living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) often experiencelimited opportunities for social connection despite close proximity to peers, which hasimplications for mental health and quality of life (QoL). The introduction of large-scaleundergraduate health student placements in RACFs may enhance opportunities formeaningful engagement through social connection, although this remains unexplored.Objective: This research explores whether interpersonal encounters between healthstudents and RACF residents influence residents’ opportunities for social connectionand QoL.Methods: A mixed methods design was employed which included questionnaire datafrom residents, and qualitative interview data from residents, family members andRACF staff. Data were collected during and after student placements to allow for anin-depth exploration of residents, family members and staff perspectives.Results: Forty-three participants (28 residents, 10 staff and five family members) wererecruited during 2014. Overall, many residents had clinical levels of depression, mildcognitive impairment and multiple morbidities, however reported moderate-to-goodQoL. Thematic analysis was undertaken on interview transcripts, and three themesemerged: (i) social isolation and loneliness fostered by residents’ age-related conditions,(ii) students expand socially supportive connections beyond the RACF and (iii) meaningmaking by sharing health experiences, which was found to help renegotiate olderadults’ pervasive narrative of vulnerability.Conclusion: Supported and structured health student placements in RACFs enableolder adults to participate in meaningful encounters with younger people. Theseencounters focus on sharing health experiences and address long-standing issues ofisolation and loneliness by providing opportunities for social connection