Care must start closer to home – Intensity of aged care work means provider executives and front-line staff must prioritise self-health

In the ever-changing landscape of compliance regulation, funding model changes and general intensity of keeping the doors open and striving for excellence in care, the majority of provider and clinical leadership, alongside the integral cohort of front-line staff, operate at sustained high levels of strategic, financial, emotional and critical thinking. Coupled with the physical requirements of front-line staff, the physiological pressures on the brain and body are monumental. A recent study from Finnish medical researchers has found that between the ages of 36-46 is a critical window to double-down on behavioral habits. From lowered alcohol consumption, physical exercise and cessation of smoking, the study emphasises the need to systemically pivot to ensure health through to old age. With the only intensifying environment of aged care, the findings have solidified the profound need for executive and front-line staff to prioritise health for the long-haul.

Ages 36 – 46 is a critical window for human health

Australia Medical Association’s Chair of Public Health, Dr Bonning, speaking to the findings of the study, shares that the window of time between 36-46 is “foundational to what happens next.” Commenting on the societal interpretation of a person’s 20s, with limited sleep and heightened alcohol consumption, Dr Bonning notes that, as we age, looking after the body becomes a non-negotiable if it is to be looked after into the ages of 50s, 60s and beyond. If provider leadership, and the front-line staff they manage, wish to be “healthy, fit and active” for work in the sector past mid-40s heeding and implementing habits is a must. It is critically incumbent on behaviour in the mid-30s to 40s to set up a baseline health for sustained and effective work in the sector later in life.

Dr Bonning emphasises that while “good habits started as early as possible are great”, it is particularly important to start securing these behavioural habits from 36.

“There is a lot of undoing that we can achieve, if we have relatively simple things we try to adhere to in this make-or-break decade.”

Smoking and alcohol have multi-faceted negative consequences

The study unequivocally finds that smoking has links to serious health consequences, and not just in the commonly understood result of likelihood of cancer. The findings showed that those actively smoking were “associated with poorer mental well-being and physical inactivity with poor health” as well. The researchers found that consistent smoking could contribute to lower moods, as well as a suppressed desire to exercise, reducing the drive towards critical daily exercise and the significant physiological benefits and protections physical activity brings.

The findings also re-asserted the largely known medical advice to limit alcohol intake. The researchers found that “heavy alcohol consumption” could be linked to “poorer metabolic health and self-rated health”, as well as, “a higher number of depressive symptoms.” Dr Bonning confirms that adults should be prioritising to forgo alcohol at least 3-4 days a week. He also links the need and ease of sleep. “Sleep gets easier if we are not drinking.” He emphasises that good-quality sleep is critical in this age range.

“We need well structured sleep that cleans out the brain”, importantly tying quality and consistent sleep to, “helping to prevent Alzheimer’s as we get older.”

Movement and good food is essential

The researchers were able to clearly link physical inactivity to “poorer metabolic health and self-rated health.” Dr Bonning confirms this with the wider research stating that, “moving regularly across your day is really important.” Particularly for leadership staff where meetings and desk work are systemically inherent in the working day, to prioritise moving, particularly as Dr Bonning notes, “to feel puffed” is important to gain the positive yield benefits across the body and mind. He also noted that, “weight bearing exercise pays off into the future with more lean muscle, which helps to control weight… resulting in making your bones strong.”

Dr Bonning shies away from being “overly prescriptive” when it comes to physical activity. Particularly for executives with packed schedules, the suggestion of 150 minutes across the week, to fit in where possible is a more accessible behavioural target. “Breaking down into groups of 20 or 30 minutes…people can find ways to fit it in.” He suggests utilising stairs, which may be an option for the provider executive to courageously give up the lift and ascend the centre’s floors the old-school way.

Deepening consequences as we age

Going further than the wider research, Dr Bonning points to the marker of nutritional food that is consistently ingested, “at least, the most of the food you eat, you can identify, it’s fruits, it’s vegetables, it’s whole-grains, it’s meats, it’s thing we can see and know.”

The findings from the study and Dr Bonning both seriously convey the habitual impact of high alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity and smoking. The researchers found that “the number of current risky health behaviours and particularly their temporal accumulation are associated with poorer mental well-being, lower self-rated health, and a higher number of metabolic risk factors.” Bonning also confirms, “if we don’t sleep and eat well our likelihood of developing diabetes goes way up.” As well as, “if we’re not exercising our risk of cardio-vascular disease really starts ramping up from here [36 to 36].”

Action speaks loudest

In the positive outpouring of daily work for majority of provider executives and front-line staff, to ensure that residents are sleeping, eating and being cared for well, it is paramount that care is routinely assessed to the self. A particular problematic syndrome that has come through psychological study is that those who know a great deal on a topic, can dismiss advice on adhering to that very knowledge. Bonning is clear and straightforward regarding the consequences of ignoring this advice, “we’ll see weight gain, pronounce fatigue, what you end up with is the start of a lot of chronic diseases.”

To set up the sector on its strongest footing, it is worthwhile for provider leadership to pivot and entrench, behaviourally and policy-wise, the elevation and support of self-care for peers and front-line staff. Putting in place campaigns, rosters, training on these critical elements on health in this age window may yet go a long way to mitigating some of the serious challenges to providing quality health care, particularly worker health, retention and workplace satisfaction.