‘Caring For The Carer’: Implementing A Comprehensive Support Service Model For Family Caregivers Looking After Persons With Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$218,830.00
Summary
Blindness related to late age-related macular degeneration impacts not only the patient but also their family carers, placing them at risk of poor health outcomes. Together with our partners (Macular Disease Foundation Australia; Carers NSW), we will implement and evaluate a comprehensive support service that aims to help family caregivers by enhancing their psychosocial skills, so that they can manage their stress more effectively and better cope with the challenges associated with caregiving.
A Randomised Trial Of A Carer End Of Life Planning Intervention (CELPI) In People Dying With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,486,232.00
Summary
Dementia is the second highest cause of death in Australia. Although palliative care helps individuals avoid suffering and futile interventions at the end of life, only 6% of people that die of dementia receive such care. Many older people with dementia attend an ED in their final year of life. In CELPI we will trial using that opportunity of an ED visit as the trigger to implement a triad of carer education, access to palliative care and a formal planning process for participants.
Health, Economic, Psychological And Social Impact Of Educating Carers Of Patients With Advanced Pulmonary Disease (APD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,452.00
Summary
Our study aims to understand the health, economic and social costs associated with caring for patients with advanced pulmonary disease (APD) and to determine health, economic and social impact of improving the skills of caregivers of patients with APD has on patients and their carers. Patients with APD are a large population at high risk of health resource use, unnecessary medication use and emergency admission to hospital or residential care facilities. Although previous research has identified ....Our study aims to understand the health, economic and social costs associated with caring for patients with advanced pulmonary disease (APD) and to determine health, economic and social impact of improving the skills of caregivers of patients with APD has on patients and their carers. Patients with APD are a large population at high risk of health resource use, unnecessary medication use and emergency admission to hospital or residential care facilities. Although previous research has identified difficulties experienced by caregivers of the elderly in general, very little research has been undertaken with carers of patients with APD. The study will compare the usual practice of educating patients with APD who commence home oxygen therapy (HOT), and their carers, against a more detailed and individually targeted education program that increases the skills of patients and carers. This study has the potential to reduce hospital-residential care readmission, reduce carer distress, improve patient outcomes, reduce adverse effects of oxygen therapy and medication use, and minimize inappropriate presentation to tertiary care emergency departments.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Cross-over Trial Of Family-mediated Personalised Activities For Nursing Home Residents With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
While the cognitive, functional and behavioural changes in people with dementia are without doubt stressful for family carers, it may be that the loss of the relationship underlies the burden and feelings of depression that many carers experience. Typically, interventions to alleviate carer stress separate the carer from their relative instead of focusing on improving their relationship. This project aims to train carers to conduct personalised one-to-one activities with their relative.
Gotta Be Sit Down And Worked Out Together- A Program For Carers Of Older People In Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,742,188.00
Summary
"Gotta be sit down and worked out together" is a participatory program for carers of older people with physical and mental health problems who live in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley. This project aims to assist community carers to select, develop and implement programs to address their unmet health needs, utilising a community based participatory action research approach. The program emphasises the need to foster empowerment, improve psychological well being and carer burden.
Improving Decision Making On Health Interventions: Factoring In The Long Term Economic Impacts Of Informal (unpaid) Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$628,963.00
Summary
This project looks at the future health of the Australian population that will keep more informal carers out of employment and diminish their own livings standards, thereby reducing funds available to government and the impact of interventions that could improve the health of the population and increase employment of carers.
Caring For The Carer: Improving Self-efficacy To Provide Care And Reducing Anxiety Among Family Carers Of Primary Brain Tumour Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,669.00
Summary
This fellowship will aim to improve self-efficacy and reduce anxiety among carers of primary brain tumour patients, who experience a significant burden due to their caregiving roles. This will be achieved through: (1) development of an online psychoeducational intervention; (2) pilot testing of the intervention; and (3) a randomised controlled trial of the intervention to determine its efficacy.
Choir Participation To Improve Wellbeing And Relationship Quality For Community-dwelling People With Dementia And Their Primary Care-givers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$569,698.00
Summary
An estimated 300,000 Australians live with dementia and this figure is projected to triple by 2050. Aligning with government priorities to support primary caregivers to care for loved ones at home, this project investigates the effect of choir participation and familiar music for people with dementia and their caregivers. We expect to find evidence that active music participation enhances wellbeing, quality of life, and relationship quality for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Strengthening Community Based Paliative Care Services: Towards A Better Understanding Of Medical Aspects Of Caring For C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,892.00
Summary
Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus wil ....Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus will be to identify issues relating to symptom assessment and management, family and caregiver support and psychosocial-bereavement support. The knowledge gained will be used to redesign-strengthen links between paediatric hospitals and community based palliative care programs.Read moreRead less