Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) in partnership with Queensland University of Technology and AFH Europe Sp. z o.o. has been awarded an ARIIA grant for their project ‘From Manual to Automated: Evaluating the usability and acceptance of an automated shower system in residential aged care’.
This project assesses the impact of automated technology on the showering experience in residential aged care. We will examine the implementation of the "Sit & Shower" automatic bathing device, tracking showering habits, preferences, and behaviours of residents and carers before and after the trial.
The current process of caregiver-assisted showering is physically demanding, time-consuming, and emotionally challenging. This research will investigate whether the adoption of this automated showering device can enhance residents’ autonomy and dignity, while simultaneously reducing the workload and physical strain of caregivers - who often experience injuries from lifting and bending while manoeuvering residents. Alongside, processing qualitative and quantitative data on how residents, their families, and staff experience the “Sit & Shower”, key clinical indicators will be collected throughout this research project and compared against the pre-study baseline, to document communication, adverse responsive behaviours during showering, pain, time spent and exercise and mobility opportunities during the showering process.
Education, engagement, and knowledge translation is a priority, with multiple webinars throughout the project in tandem with the development of digital stories, infographics and industry/academic publications to widely disseminate findings.