End-of-Life Care And Dying-at-Home: Choices And Needs Of People With Intellectual Disability And Their Carers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,343.00
Summary
With the continued push towards community living for people with intellectual disability, how best to provide support at the end-of-life remains a neglected research area. This occurs against a backdrop of an increasingly ageing population, in an arena where end-of-life care and dying at home is the preferred option for most people. This research breaks new ground, aiming to establish supports such that people with intellectual disability may remain at home until the end of their life.
Parent Education For The Treatment Of Severe Behaviour Problems In Children With Developmental Disabilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$116,220.00
Summary
Approximately 40% of children with developmental disabilities have severe behaviour problems (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction, and extreme tantrums) (Einfeld and Tonge, 1996). The care of a child with such problems represents a significant burden to parents and society. One of the most promising treatments is functional communication training (FCT), which aims to reduce problem behaviours by improving the child's communication skills. Numerous studies have demonstrated the ef ....Approximately 40% of children with developmental disabilities have severe behaviour problems (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction, and extreme tantrums) (Einfeld and Tonge, 1996). The care of a child with such problems represents a significant burden to parents and society. One of the most promising treatments is functional communication training (FCT), which aims to reduce problem behaviours by improving the child's communication skills. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of FCT (Mirenda, 1997). Wacker et al. (1998) have shown that parents can be taught to use FCT, but these parents received individual consultations, which would seem to limit its practicality. Preliminary results from our current APEX grant suggest that parents can learn to implement this treatment in a group format, which is more practical from a public health perspective. However, it is currently unknown if group training is as effective as individual consultation. In the present application, we aim to compare these two ways of teaching parents how to use FCT. From a total sample of 36, the parents of 18 children will be randomly assigned to the group training format and 18 to the individual format. All parents will receive 12 hours of training on how to use FCT, either as part of a group of 3 families (mothers and-or fathers) in the clinic or on a one-to-one basis in the family home. Pre, post, and follow-up measures of problem behaviours will be used to address the research question: Is group training as effective as individual consultation? If so, we would have demonstrated a more practical way of teaching parents how to implement this evidence-based treatment for child behaviour problems.Read moreRead less
Home Based Rehabilitation To Reduce Falls And Disability In Parkinson Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$805,599.00
Summary
Falls occur in more than half of the 80,000 Australians living with Parkinson disease. This research will examine the extent to which a program of home rehabilitation using exercises, movement strategies and falls education is effective in reducing the number of falls, the injuries from falls and disability. We will also examine the effects of home based rehabilitation on quality of life. We shall compare the outcomes of the integrated rehabilitation home program with a life-skills program.
Social Aspects Of Amputation Among An Aging Population In Urban And Rural Victoria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,742.00
Summary
In recent years, social scientists have shown increasing interest in how individual and social structural factors inter-relate to produce wellbeing. An associated interest has been the role of social networks and social support for individuals with chronic disease, enabling them to manage ongoing illness or impairment, live fulfilling lives and experience wellbeing. To explore these issues in an Australian context, this project focuses on people who have had amputations from trauma, advanced dis ....In recent years, social scientists have shown increasing interest in how individual and social structural factors inter-relate to produce wellbeing. An associated interest has been the role of social networks and social support for individuals with chronic disease, enabling them to manage ongoing illness or impairment, live fulfilling lives and experience wellbeing. To explore these issues in an Australian context, this project focuses on people who have had amputations from trauma, advanced disease (e.g. cancer) or complications of chronic disease (e.g. diabetes). The study aims to increase our understanding of how people live with particular diseases and health conditions, the impact of these conditions on body image, self-esteem, social relationships and societal participation, and how structural, contextual and environmental factors affect individual functioning and disability. By including people of different gender, ethnicity, age and area of residence, the study is concerned with how life circumstances and socialization (including ideas of gender) influence outcome. The findings will contribute to our knowledge of adaptation and provide information relevant to improved care for people from different backgrounds. The study is significant because of the increase in chronic disease (relative to infectious disease) in contemporary industrialised societies, particularly with an aging population. The policy context of this work is government interest in maximising the independence and wellbeing of people who are aged and-or with chronic disease, while minimising the economic costs. The research is also significant to international agencies and consumer organisations concerned with reducing discrimination against and inequality of people with impairments. The study will contribute to the WHO classification of disability, and efforts to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.Read moreRead less
Investigating and promoting resilience in children with intellectual disabilities. Disability is a significant risk factor that threatens health and well-being. For the estimated 4% of 0-14 year old children with diagnosed intellectual disabilities in Australia, early intervention is crucial for promoting resilience and preventing an accumulation of risk. By promoting resilience and thereby reducing the cost of lifelong support, evidence-based interventions produce huge social and economic benef ....Investigating and promoting resilience in children with intellectual disabilities. Disability is a significant risk factor that threatens health and well-being. For the estimated 4% of 0-14 year old children with diagnosed intellectual disabilities in Australia, early intervention is crucial for promoting resilience and preventing an accumulation of risk. By promoting resilience and thereby reducing the cost of lifelong support, evidence-based interventions produce huge social and economic benefits for the nation, as well as for individuals, families and communities.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve t ....Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve the life of the disabled by enhancing their ability to control their environment, (ii) situating Australia in the forefront of disability technology research and development, and (iii) enhancing the development of knowledge in research training students in the biomedical area. Read moreRead less
Realising an 'ordinary life' for people with intellectual disabilities: Developing a theoretical framework for group home outcomes. Explaining why group homes produce variable outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities will make it more likely they live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. Such outcomes are central to policies of inclusion and fundamental to human rights. The Australian community will be enriched by the inclusion of all people with disabilities and become a more jus ....Realising an 'ordinary life' for people with intellectual disabilities: Developing a theoretical framework for group home outcomes. Explaining why group homes produce variable outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities will make it more likely they live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. Such outcomes are central to policies of inclusion and fundamental to human rights. The Australian community will be enriched by the inclusion of all people with disabilities and become a more just society. The research will support the translation of social policy into practice and adoption of good management practices. It will enable more effective use of the $2 billion spent on disability accommodation, and will bolster the arguments for community rather than institutional living, demonstrating investment in community services is a sound use of public moneyRead moreRead less
Comparison of interventions for families from rural communities who have a child with an intellectual disability and problem behaviour. The project comprises two studies. The first aims at evaluating the relative effectiveness of two modes of supporting families from rural areas who have a child with an intellectual disability and problem behaviour. Both modes involve providing the families with written and videotape materials containing advice about how to manage the problem behaviour, but one ....Comparison of interventions for families from rural communities who have a child with an intellectual disability and problem behaviour. The project comprises two studies. The first aims at evaluating the relative effectiveness of two modes of supporting families from rural areas who have a child with an intellectual disability and problem behaviour. Both modes involve providing the families with written and videotape materials containing advice about how to manage the problem behaviour, but one mode also includes the addition of regular telephone calls. The second study focuses on examining the child, parent, practitioner, and contextual variables associated with families being able to benefit from support through the use of the written and videotape materials.Read moreRead less
Intellectual disability in courts and police cells. Benefit to the nation accrues because offenders with intellectual disability will be accurately identified early in their contact with the criminal justice system (CJS), and appropriate diversions from the CJS as well as rehabilitation programs can be implemented, thus producing cost-savings in all jurisdictions. The community benefits because offenders with ID can receive appropriate service provision, based on evidence provided by this study ....Intellectual disability in courts and police cells. Benefit to the nation accrues because offenders with intellectual disability will be accurately identified early in their contact with the criminal justice system (CJS), and appropriate diversions from the CJS as well as rehabilitation programs can be implemented, thus producing cost-savings in all jurisdictions. The community benefits because offenders with ID can receive appropriate service provision, based on evidence provided by this study. The individual's ties to the community will be maintained and on the community will be supported to assist the individual. Justice health systems, in staff management and training areas, will benefit. The outcomes will benefit educational programs for the judiciary, police and lawyers.Read moreRead less