The effect of Covid-19 related lockdown on aged care residents’ perceptions of their residential aged care facility using the Happy Life Index

Purpose: Residents living in residential aged care facilities (RACF) are a vulnerable sector of the community during the Covid-19 pandemic, both from the disease and the resultant control measures, such as lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing. In a patient centred health system, it is important that the views of residents and their relatives, ie. the ‘consumers’, are included to help understand the effect of these control measures. The Happy Life Index (HLI) is a consumer completed survey tool that measures modifiable quality of life indicators including food, environment and cleanliness, activities and lifestyle, staff friendliness, staff presence, management and care quality. This study explored the effect of Covid-19 related lockdowns on HLI scores from residents and their relatives. Methods This study is a secondary analysis using HLI data obtained from Australian RACF residents and relatives. The seven HLI components were rated on a 5-point scale (1 = Very bad; 5 = Excellent). The likelihood of residents and relatives giving a rating of “Excellent” was estimated using logistic regression comparing those who responded before the Covid-19 related restrictions to those who responded during the Covid-19 related restrictions. Results A total of 9,790 residents responded to at least one of the HLI questions. Fewer residents reported satisfaction associated with staff in their RACF, both in terms of friendliness and presence, during the Covid-19 restrictions compared to pre-Covid-19 lockdowns, whilst amongst relatives, fewer reported satisfaction with management during the restrictions. RACF residents were more likely to report satisfaction with their meals during the Covid-19 related restrictions than prior to the restrictions. Conclusion This study suggests that during Covid-19 related restrictions a greater emphasis on staff wellbeing and staffing numbers may help to maintain resident’s satisfaction with the service quality.