Using Judo to reduce older people’s risk of injury from a fall, improving the management of type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis, and helping delirium patients recover, are among six new projects that will share in close to $1 million in funding from The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
The projects have been successful in securing the funds through our competitive ‘Innovations in Ageing Well’ grant round.
Proposals which focused on allowing older South Australians to remain independent, enhance their health and wellbeing and reduce the need for hospital admissions were encouraged to be submitted in this round.
In total, the successful projects add up to $994,000 over two years, which was made possible by the generous support of our donors.
The projects are:
Professor Hannah Keage – Rehabilitative intervention after delirium
University of South Australia | SAHMRI
Delirium is a sudden change in mental ability, commonly found in hospitalised older adults, which can lead to increased risk of dementia and death. However, there is no rehabilitative intervention aimed at reducing ongoing harm.
The project will bring together researchers, clinicians, and older people to develop a rehabilitative intervention to improve outcomes for those post-delirium.
Dr Agathe Daria Jadczak – Safe-landing skills
University of Adelaide | Basil Hetzel Institute/Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Allied health professionals and Judo coaches will join forces to provide an eight-week Judo-based exercise program for older adults.
The program will teach the core skills required to land safely from a controlled fall and will evaluate its effectiveness in improving safe-landing skills for older adults.
Professor Renuka Visvanathan – Preventing frailty
University of Adelaide | Basil Hetzel Institute/Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Canadian Frailty Network has launched its AVOID (Activity, Vaccination, Optimising medication, Interaction and healthy Diet) frailty program for healthy ageing across four cities in Canada to identify, assess and reduce the risk factors associated with frailty.
The AVOID program will be adapted for Australian use in partnership with citizen scientists and stakeholders. Implementation research will inform program refinement as it is rolled out for the first-time outside Canada.
Professor Stacey George – Reducing impact of non-medical factors
Flinders University
Non-medical factors often have an impact on older people’s health and wellbeing.
This project will co-design and implement a program to connect older people to services and supports to reduce these factors, resulting in improved health and wellbeing and lessen demand on the healthcare system.
Professor Karen Jones – Postprandial hypotension in older people
University of Adelaide | Royal Adelaide Hospital
A significant drop in blood pressure after eating, known as postprandial hypotension, is associated with increased risk of fainting and falling. It is frequently seen in older people and people with type 2 diabetes and there is no optimal treatment.
This study will evaluate whether a medication used in the management of type 2 diabetes benefits older people with postprandial hypotension.
Associate Professor Tasha Stanton – Osteoarthritis self-management
University of South Australia | SAHMRI
A lack of available health services means that many Australians with osteoarthritis don’t receive best-practice care.
This project will see researchers work alongside people with osteoarthritis to co-design a mentorship program aimed at improving self-management. This will produce a ready-to-use, peer-led treatment program for use across Australia to improve clinical outcomes.
