An Efficacy Study Of A Cognitive-communicative Intervention To Improve Transition To Residential Care In Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$681,083.00
Summary
The transition from home to a residential aged care facility (RACF) is a potentially traumatic process that has a negative impact on the health and well-being of both people with dementia and their caregivers. This project will develop an intervention program for people with dementia that maximizes their ability to learn and retain functional skills and that enhances the communicative competence of both people with dementia and their carergivers. This will serve to minimize the stress and disori ....The transition from home to a residential aged care facility (RACF) is a potentially traumatic process that has a negative impact on the health and well-being of both people with dementia and their caregivers. This project will develop an intervention program for people with dementia that maximizes their ability to learn and retain functional skills and that enhances the communicative competence of both people with dementia and their carergivers. This will serve to minimize the stress and disorientation, as well as accompanying increased risk of illness, of entering residential care. We will investigate whether this intervention program has good outcomes both for the people with dementia as well as their caregivers. The research will develop guidelines for the development of best-practice policies for service providers and the government, which will assist both health workers and homebased caregivers to better manage the transition of people with dementia from home to the RACF environment.Read moreRead less
New Methods Of Pain Assessment In Demented Older Persons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
There are substantial risks of inadequate pain assessment and management in persons with cognitive impairment and particularly in those with communication problems. Undetected or under-treated pain can have serious adverse effects on frail older adults including poorer cognitive performance, increased levels of depression, anxiety and disruptive behaviours, a reduced quality of life and higher levels of functional disability. These adverse effects contribute to greater demands for daily nursing ....There are substantial risks of inadequate pain assessment and management in persons with cognitive impairment and particularly in those with communication problems. Undetected or under-treated pain can have serious adverse effects on frail older adults including poorer cognitive performance, increased levels of depression, anxiety and disruptive behaviours, a reduced quality of life and higher levels of functional disability. These adverse effects contribute to greater demands for daily nursing care and a corresponding increase in health care costs. The present proposal aims to develop more sensitive, reliable and valid questionnaire and non-verbal measures of pain in older adults with cognitive impairment and particularly in those with verbal communication problems. By completion, the present studies should provide much needed information on the reliability and validity of several different types of verbal and non-verbal indicators of possible pain. This research should lead to improved pain assessment and management for the growing segment of the population who suffer from pain and impaired cognitive function.Read moreRead less
A Population Based Study Of The Use Of Acute Hospital Services By Elderly People Living In Residential Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$127,000.00
Summary
This project will be the first population based Australian study to describe the pattern of utilisation of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. It will provide much needed information on which to base health policy decisions relating to the acute care needs of the most frail elderly members of our community. Within a context of an ageing demographic profile of the Australian population, it is essential that the dynamic interplay between acute care services and th ....This project will be the first population based Australian study to describe the pattern of utilisation of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. It will provide much needed information on which to base health policy decisions relating to the acute care needs of the most frail elderly members of our community. Within a context of an ageing demographic profile of the Australian population, it is essential that the dynamic interplay between acute care services and the residential aged-care sector be elucidated, both for current service provision and for better prediction of future service requirements. This study will make use of existing linked health data sources in WA to achieve the following aims: 1. To provide health service planners with information about the rates, patterns, causes, outcomes and costs of acute emergency department and in-patient hospital services for elderly persons living in residential care in Perth, Western Australia. 2. To develop a population model to determine future acute hospital requirements for elderly persons living in residential care. 3. To estimate the potential impact of alternate modes of integration of acute and long-term care on the utilisation of acute hospital services by hostel and nursing home residents.Read moreRead less
Completion Of A Study To Determine If Vitamin D Supplementation Prevents Fractures In Older Women In Residential Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,285.00
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency is a common and easily reversible nutritional problem in older people in residential care. Publication of benefits from vitamin D and calcium supplementation in older women in residential care in France has made the evaluation of population based interventions in Australia a priority. The French study demonstrated substantial reductions in the incidence of hip fractures, the most serious of osteoporotic fractures in terms of morbidity, mortality and financial costs. As yet, ....Vitamin D deficiency is a common and easily reversible nutritional problem in older people in residential care. Publication of benefits from vitamin D and calcium supplementation in older women in residential care in France has made the evaluation of population based interventions in Australia a priority. The French study demonstrated substantial reductions in the incidence of hip fractures, the most serious of osteoporotic fractures in terms of morbidity, mortality and financial costs. As yet, there are no data to inform rational policy in the Australian context, where 10% of women over the age of 70 reside in residential care and where the availability of sunlight and differing diets may alter the effects seen with vitamin D supplementation. Also, we do not understand the mechanism by which this effect occurs, either by strengthening bone or decreasing the rates of falls. Our general aim is to evaluate a simple, cost effective and immediately available intervention, vitamin D supplementation, in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures, especially hip fracture. The specific targeted population will be the high risk population of elderly female nursing home and hostel residents. This study will address whether it is justified to treat all women in these settings with vitamin D supplementation or alternatively to screen and supplement those women with demonstrable vitamin D deficiency.Read moreRead less
A Best Practice Oral Health Model For Australian Residential Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$58,900.00
Summary
Carers are essential to the delivery of oral hygiene care and maintenance of residents’ oral health in residential care faclities. This research will investigate the role that carers can play to maintain adequate oral health for residents, and improving their timely referral and access to dental professionals. It will also assist with the development of appropriate policies and procedures for oral and dental care, in accordance with Commonwealth Residential Aged Care Standards
Sydney Multisite Intervention Of LaughterBosses And ElderClowns (SMILE): An RCT Of Humour Therapy In Residential Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$852,237.00
Summary
Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE) is a trial of humour therapy. About 400 residents from 36 hostels and nursing homes will be randomly assigned to receive the SMILE treatment or usual care. ElderClowns will visit weekly, and staff volunteers will be trained to be LaughterBosses and bring humour to daily care routines. SMILE will evaluate whether humour therapy improves resident quality-of-life and mood, and reduces staff burnout and turnover.
The Effect Of Foot Massage On Agitation In People Living With Dementia In Residential Care Settings: An RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,301.00
Summary
This study investigates the effect of a 10-minute foot massage on agitated behaviours of older people living with dementia in residential care settings. The study builds on previous complementary research and provides further evidence to help assess whether foot massage is, indeed, a low cost, low risk, non-pharmacological and easily applied procedure that produces tangible positive psychological and physiological effects.
Consumer Directed Care In Residential Aged Care: Transforming Practice Through The Resident At The Centre Of Care (RCC) Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$836,087.00
Summary
The impending introduction of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) into Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) will require organisations to respond rapidly in both ‘mindset’ and service delivery to radically change the nature of their current care practices. This project will allow our industry partners to implement and evaluate a CDC model of care that, if successful, will lead to a sustainable site specific implementation plan of CDC for RACFs across Australia with better outcomes for residents.