Rehabilitation in residential aged care facilities: barriers and facilitators in a dementia context

This review of the literature sought to highlight key barriers to the implementation of rehabilitation-based interventions in an aged care facility context. It then identifies how such barriers might be actively countered with a view to facilitating rehabilitation-based strategies within such contexts. Key barriers identified included staffing issues, heterogeneity of residents, and the potential complexity behind establishing appropriate forms of rehabilitation for the residents. The most successful facilitators identified included training, the provision of appropriate support, and an open communication process. Having an awareness and an appreciation of potential barriers to the use of rehabilitation interventions in aged care facilities provides the opportunity to actively plan around them, thereby increasing and improving their use. © 2013, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved