The Plug-in worked with a leading aged care provider to explore the different ways aged care service providers communicate with older people and talk about their in-home care services to clients.

The project was carried out over two stages, the first being focus groups, and the second an online survey.

What was involved

We held focus groups with selected eligible influencers who generously shared their thoughts and experiences about a range of questions and scenarios related to in-home care and support services. Thanks to the insights that were shared through these focus groups we were able to develop a clear understanding of how older people think and feel about in-home care services.

As with all our projects, The Plug-in has a range of selection criteria for participants. To be eligible for this project, participants were:

  • Aged 65 years or older
  • Currently receiving a Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme (STRC) service
  • Able to attend a 90 minute focus group in a convenient Adelaide CBD location

Focus Groups were held in August 2019 and participants received a $30 gift card in recognition of their involvement.

In order to explore whether what we discovered through these focus groups applies to the wider population, we invited influencers to participate in an interactive online survey. The survey was designed to help test the way aged care service providers communicate with older people and talk about their in-home care services, and was open to anyone to complete.

We thank everyone who participated in the focus groups and completed the online survey — your contributions are greatly valued! Your comments will make a difference by directly influencing the ways this aged care service provider communicates with older people.

For further information please contact us on 08 8224 5526 or email connect@theplugin.com.au