This study examined a neglected area in long term care
and adult day care research: staff development. The specific
purposes of this study were to describe the provision of a
comprehensive staff development program in adult day care
centers in Virginia in order to (a) differentiate those
centers providing only the minimum required inservice training
from those centers providing more comprehensive staff
development programs and (b) define what meaning is placed
upon staff education programs by center administrators.
A mail survey design was used for this study. The
questionnaire developed for the study has three sections: (a)
center characteristics, (b) staff characteristics, and (c) the
meaning of staff development. Quantitative analysis was
conducted on the first two sections while qualitative
analysis was used to examine the final section. A conceptual
model for adult day care staff development programs was also
developed for the study. The model was used to compare the
staff development programs across adult day care centers in
Virginia. The sample included all licensed adult day care
center administrators in Virginia (n=43). The total response
rate for this survey was 88%.
Results were discussed in terms of the provision of staff
development programs, as well as the meaning that was placed
on staff development by the responding center administrators.
The results showed that much importance is placed upon staff
development programs by the center administrators and they
follow through with this by providing a well rounded staff
development program for their staff.
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