Ageing and Intellectual Disability' Educating Staff: A Service Improvement Initiative

The aim of the poster is to describe a Service Improvement Initiative using the HSE Change Model (HSE, 2008) on the education of staff in relation to ‘Ageing and Intellectual Disability’ which was part of the Post Graduate... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of the poster is to describe a Service Improvement Initiative using the HSE Change Model (HSE, 2008) on the education of staff in relation to ‘Ageing and Intellectual Disability’ which was part of the Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing –Gerontology in NUIG. The poster highlights the requirement for Nurses to participate and instigate lead in service improvement initiatives. The service improvement initiative highlighted the author’s hypothesis that a gap in knowledge existed within the workforce, in both nursing and non nursing staff in relation to the ageing process and those with Intellectual Disability. The poster describes the process of change from initiation through planning, implementation and mainstreaming. It concludes that service improvement is necessary to enhance quality patient care and positive health outcomes for ageing people with Intellectual disability. It also indicates that Staff at all levels and all grades are crucial to the success of service improvement initiatives and further identifies the future and real development for this initiative: ‘the plan for this service improvement initiative of educating staff in relation to ‘Ageing and Intellectual Disability’ is for nursing colleagues to roll out education sessions…’ based on the original format within their own area’s thus advocating research in the clinical area and ensuring best evidence based practice for the enhancement of quality care.