The neglected dimension of community liveability: Impact on social connectedness and active ageing. Quality of life and well being are essential to maintaining a healthy and socially-engaged population. This project takes an innovative trans-disciplinary approach in addressing the national research priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and the associated goal, Ageing well, ageing productively through research that identifies the attributes of communities that foster or inhibit social ....The neglected dimension of community liveability: Impact on social connectedness and active ageing. Quality of life and well being are essential to maintaining a healthy and socially-engaged population. This project takes an innovative trans-disciplinary approach in addressing the national research priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and the associated goal, Ageing well, ageing productively through research that identifies the attributes of communities that foster or inhibit social engagement. The outcomes of the project will inform policy makers, planners and service deliver organisations about ways to identify, improve or maintain safe housing, transport and community environments for the benefit of all Australians.Read moreRead less
Alone in a crowd: Supporting older Australians managing loneliness. The project provides crucial understandings and knowledge about loneliness as understood by older Australians and support/service providers, and solutions to assist them manage it. The findings will provide immediate practical outcomes that can be implemented by support/service providers, whilst also providing information that can assist policy makers and managers in the service provision area. The findings will enhance the heal ....Alone in a crowd: Supporting older Australians managing loneliness. The project provides crucial understandings and knowledge about loneliness as understood by older Australians and support/service providers, and solutions to assist them manage it. The findings will provide immediate practical outcomes that can be implemented by support/service providers, whilst also providing information that can assist policy makers and managers in the service provision area. The findings will enhance the health and well-being of older Australians with concomitant social and economic benefits. The study contributes to ensuring the optimum use and deployment of finite health and social resources.Read moreRead less
Accommodating the Needs of People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability in Residential Aged Care. Unique challenges face the residential aged care system because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting disability and aged care services to their needs, thus p ....Accommodating the Needs of People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability in Residential Aged Care. Unique challenges face the residential aged care system because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting disability and aged care services to their needs, thus program development is in its early stages. This research will inform the development of policy and programs in the Aged Care, Disability and Health sectors with the aim of improving the quality of life for people with intellectual disability as they age.Read moreRead less
Moving beyond crisis management: Creating a future for people with disabilities living with ageing parents. The needs of thousands of people with disabilities being cared for by ageing parents are beyond the capacity of our existing formal mechanisms for providing care. In order to mitigate this national crisis in support, this research will establish effective, resource efficient support strategies where there are currently no plans in place for future care arrangements. By enhancing the capaci ....Moving beyond crisis management: Creating a future for people with disabilities living with ageing parents. The needs of thousands of people with disabilities being cared for by ageing parents are beyond the capacity of our existing formal mechanisms for providing care. In order to mitigate this national crisis in support, this research will establish effective, resource efficient support strategies where there are currently no plans in place for future care arrangements. By enhancing the capacity of the community to provide support the benefit of existing formal supports will be extended to address the needs of more families. This project will position Australian disability research and support at the forefront of international efforts to legitimize the claim of people with disabilities and their families on community resources.Read moreRead less
Staff communication in aged care facilities: a key factor in delivering resident-focused care. Australia's ageing population makes quality of aged care a national priority. This study examines the proposed crux of quality care: communication structures and processes between staff. In collaboration with our industry partners, Blue Care, TriCare and Aged Care Queensland, the first phase of the study describes the structures and processes for effective communication in Aged Care Facilities (ACF's). ....Staff communication in aged care facilities: a key factor in delivering resident-focused care. Australia's ageing population makes quality of aged care a national priority. This study examines the proposed crux of quality care: communication structures and processes between staff. In collaboration with our industry partners, Blue Care, TriCare and Aged Care Queensland, the first phase of the study describes the structures and processes for effective communication in Aged Care Facilities (ACF's). A process of analysis will synthesize the results of Phase 1 to propose key communication-related indicators of quality care in ACF's. This model is tested in Phase 2 by examining the association between key communication-related indicators and accreditation outcomes. Read moreRead less
Community Engagement for Productive Ageing: Models to support rural healthy ageing through the maintenance of community involvement and contribution. Governments at all levels are concerned about the looming social and economic challenges flowing from an ageing population. At present, ageing services are largely focussed on caring for the frail dependent aged. Yet, ultimately, the key to meeting the ageing challenge will lie in how successful we are in supporting our healthy independent aged to ....Community Engagement for Productive Ageing: Models to support rural healthy ageing through the maintenance of community involvement and contribution. Governments at all levels are concerned about the looming social and economic challenges flowing from an ageing population. At present, ageing services are largely focussed on caring for the frail dependent aged. Yet, ultimately, the key to meeting the ageing challenge will lie in how successful we are in supporting our healthy independent aged to stay contributing and productive members of their community. By developing evidence-based interventions that focus on preventing social disengagement before it occurs, the project provides a cost effective approach to ensuring that Australia's rapidly growing aged cohort remain social assets and do not become social burdens.Read moreRead less
Developing an Integrative Active Ageing Model for Policy Makers and Service Providers to Support Older People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability. 'Active ageing' is increasingly gaining international currency and it underpins Australia's national focus on healthy ageing. However, its meaning for older people with intellectual disability, who represent about 0.13% of Australia's older population, is unclear, as little is known about the impact of ageing upon this group. This exciting resear ....Developing an Integrative Active Ageing Model for Policy Makers and Service Providers to Support Older People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability. 'Active ageing' is increasingly gaining international currency and it underpins Australia's national focus on healthy ageing. However, its meaning for older people with intellectual disability, who represent about 0.13% of Australia's older population, is unclear, as little is known about the impact of ageing upon this group. This exciting research project aims to address these knowledge gaps through a series of case studies comprising key stakeholder groups in rural and urban Victoria and Queensland. An Integrative Model of Active Ageing for policy makers and service providers will be developed to facilitate the planning and appropriate distribution of resources for this population. Read moreRead less
Food services in residential aged care: Financial, personnel, and service delivery factors. Evaluating current services to identify systems that deliver satisfying, effective, high quality care to vulnerable older Australians in aged care facilities (ACFs) is of national significance. If residents are more satisfied with their meals, their nutritional status will either improve or stabilise, reducing their risk of malnutrition-related morbidity and mortality and the associated financial burden t ....Food services in residential aged care: Financial, personnel, and service delivery factors. Evaluating current services to identify systems that deliver satisfying, effective, high quality care to vulnerable older Australians in aged care facilities (ACFs) is of national significance. If residents are more satisfied with their meals, their nutritional status will either improve or stabilise, reducing their risk of malnutrition-related morbidity and mortality and the associated financial burden to health care services. The cost of residential aged care is significant and growing and is subject to increased monitoring and concern. This project will suggest refinements of the Aged Care Accreditation Standards to improve their applicability to ACF residents and appropriateness for evaluating resident-focused nutritional care.Read moreRead less
Options, Opportunities and Older people: An exploration of care transitions of older people. Older Australians experience transition points in type and level of support needed to age in their place of choice. Transition points refer to some form of destabilisation in the life of the older person resulting in a changed level of care required along the continuum of care options and opportunities available. This multi-stage, multi-State, qualitative study will determine what constitutes a 'good t ....Options, Opportunities and Older people: An exploration of care transitions of older people. Older Australians experience transition points in type and level of support needed to age in their place of choice. Transition points refer to some form of destabilisation in the life of the older person resulting in a changed level of care required along the continuum of care options and opportunities available. This multi-stage, multi-State, qualitative study will determine what constitutes a 'good transition' for older people, how 'transition points' are identified by consumers and service providers, and what happens after such identification. The study contributes to prevention and early intervention responses enabling older people to age in place wherever possible.Read moreRead less