Background: Older adults living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) in South Africa are often exposed to environments that fail to provide adequate occupational opportunities. Practitioners in developing economies are challenged to provide therapeutic services in environments that emphasize occupational deprivation.
Objectives: This study investigated barriers and enablers to implementing recommendations derived from the findings generated by the Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS).
Method: A two-phased embedded mixed methodology was employed. Phase 1 was the administration of the REIS. In Phase 2, leadership staff considered factors to implementing findings of the REIS, using the nominal discussion group technique. Data were thematically analyzed.
Findings: Findings indicated an organizational culture characterized by top-down management and a medically dominated care approach, constrained by financial and operational concerns.
Conclusion: Using the REIS to holistically assess, RACFs are an applicable tool that could promote collaborative approaches to enhance organizational culture change, cultivating more occupational opportunities.
Keywords: Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS); collaborative residential aged care; nominal group techniques; occupation-based assessment tools; occupational therapy.