Our projects help to enhance the physical, social and mental health of older Australians, reduce their time spent in hospitals or care, and boost their quality of life.
Healthy Ageing Support
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 recently received funding from The Hospital Research Foundation Group.Â
One of the projects is being led by Professor Renuka Visvanathan to implement a program to prevent frailty for older populations.Â
Developing a new tool which uses 12 key indicators to compare the quality and safety of aged care homes to promote transparency and accountability throughout the industry, through insights gained by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA).
Researcher
Associate Professor Maria Inacio’s research has been presented to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in the hope it can inform recommendations for future policy changes regarding quality and safety monitoring within the sector.
Implementing a new care transition service which provides person-centered care coordination and support for older people up to five weeks after leaving hospital following an unplanned presentation or admission.
Researcher
Professor Gillian Harvey’s program is being trialled at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for six months.
Establishing that aged care residents who move more and interact with their environment are more likely to live longer, have fewer falls and higher quality of life.
The University of Adelaide research emphasises the importance of aged care residents being encouraged to move within the care home and interact with their environment to improve health outcomes.
Investigating whether a Mediterranean diet can have a positive impact on the health of people in residential aged care. A MedDiet is characterised by the high intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, olive oil and fish, moderate intake of dairy products and red wine, and low intake of red meat and saturated fats.
Researcher
Professor Geraint Rogers hopes to show increased levels of good gut bacteria, reduced risk of bacterial infection, reduced blood pressure and arterial stiffness, and improvements in memory and cognitive function.
Increasing aged care residents’ access to formal rehabilitation following a hip fracture to improve their long-term outcomes.
Researcher
Professor Maria Crotty aims to increase the awareness and adherence to recommendations for post-hip fracture rehabilitation in SA nursing homes, helping more people return to their pre-fracture level of function.
Formally evaluating the care and services provided at the new ECH Care Hotel, called ‘Dandelion’, which provides short-stay accommodation and flexibility for people transitioning from hospital so they can return to live in their own home and community. Â
The ECH Care Hotel is the first of its kind in Australia and is changing the landscape of how people can be supported as they age.
Investigating the health outcomes of people waiting for Home Care Packages, with the recommendations provided to the Royal Aged Care Commission and playing a significant role in providing more Level 3 and 4 Home Care Packages to the community.
Who this benefits
Erica and Jeff Pfitzner are grateful for their Level 4 Home Care Package to support Erica, who lives with dementia.
Undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the health economic implications of four major indicators of aged care quality and safety provided to older Australians.
Researcher
Dr Jyoti Khadka’s findings will provide essential cost estimates for health care policy makers and aged care recipients and their families.
Developing a frailty-risk index to provide local-level information for communities to make policies and match service providers to people most in need.
Aged care and frailty research is helping improve services for older Australians.
Move your way! Watch how the "Young At Heart" enjoy staying physically and mentally active:
