Sep 27, 2022

Researchers awarded over $5 million to help improve aged care sector

27_9_22 grant recipients

Two major Australian research institutes have received $5.5 million in grants, collectively, to further improve the aged care sector and older people’s quality of life. 

The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has received two funding grants totalling $3.5 million from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support continued research into improving the nation’s aged care systems.

The MRFF’s 2021 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care grants also awarded a new model of mental health in home care initiative with $2 million, led by aged care provider Silverchain and Monash University in Victoria.

NARI Executive Director, Professor Briony Dow, said the grants confirmed these research projects had real potential to improve the lives of older Australians and thanked MRFF for the funds.

“As the national leader in ageing research, we produce evidence, tools and resources designed to improve health and aged care systems, and inspire best practice public policy in the health and aged care sector,” Professor Dow said.

A number of external projects involving NARI researchers also received MRFF funding, including:

  • Implementation of a co-designed exercise and fall prevention program for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – University of Melbourne
  • Residential aAged cCare and – eEnhanced dDementia dDiagnosis – Monash University
  • A pPreventative cCare pProgram to optimise mental health during the transition into residential aged care – The University of Newcastle

The new model of care initiative created by Silverchain and Monash University, based on mental health research undertaken by the organisations, aims to identify and treat older people with depression living independently at home.

The ‘enhanced management of home-based elders’ – or EMBED model – is the first of its kind in Australia and offers a model of care aimed to facilitate early detection of depression and uses evidence-based treatments to assist older people living at home.

Silverchain’s Executive Director of Research and Innovation, Dr Anna Barker, said mobility issues, life losses, and social isolation can prohibit  older people engaging in the community and are, therefore, at higher risk of depression.

“There is a stigma in our older communities about mental health treatment and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety supported better support and care models for older people,” she said.

“Our research will evaluate the new EMBED model that is expected to reduce symptoms of depression, address stigma and enable older Australians to access evidence-based, tailored treatment at home.”

This new EMBED model also complements the NARI’s No More Shame project, which aims to remove stigmas and improve the recognition of, and response to, elder abuse by health providers.

For the full list of grant recipients, visit the Department for Health and Aged Care website.

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  1. Why oh why???? Why are we spending tax payers money for what we already know?? We as carers earn a pittance, we work our fingers to the bone to help these dear souls, we can no longer stay in the aged care sector due to financial hardship AND, they’re spending this money that could be given as an increase to show the appreciation of our hard work… Royal Commission, how much did we spend on that, NOW we need another enquiry or whatever you’d call it to FIND OUT WHAT we already know…Government has gone absolutely stark raving mad on my hard earned tax dollars, it’s not fair…..

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