A Telehealth Intervention To Delay Functional Decline In Community-dwelling People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,399.00
Summary
Telehealth programs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to increase the accessibility of services and reduce the costs associated with health professionals travelling to the client's home. This project will examine whether an evidence based intervention that delays functional decline can be delivered via videoconferencing and whether this method of delivery is as effective.
Understanding And Preventing Physical And Cognitive Decline And Falls In Older People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,626.00
Summary
Falls are common in people with dementia and are more likely to result in injury, death and institutionalisation. There is limited evidence that falls can be prevented in this group. Strategies aimed at maintaining independence and preventing decline and falls are urgently needed. This research will a) further our understanding of fall risk and functional decline and b) explore novel fall and decline prevention programs, including the use of technology in older people with dementia.
Improving Dementia Education Access (the IDEA Study) For Clinical Hospital Staff In Regional And District Hospitals: A Cluster Randomised Study To Improve Knowledge And Patient Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,303.00
Summary
This research concerns the evidence-based development, national administration, and systematic evaluation of a targeted online dementia education intervention among clinical staff in regional and district hospitals. The research aims to improve knowledge of dementia among clinical staff, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce costs by addressing four outcome levels: clinical learning needs, learning outcomes, engagement and behaviour change, and organisational performance.
At the moment, people with dementia are not offered rehabilitation, even though this may help them communicate, function and live better. I will test and advocate for rehabilitation interventions immediately post-diagnosis and as part of home and residential care. As a leader in dementia research at the University of Sydney I will grow my research team and lead new cross-disciplinary collaborations. I will also continue to influence policy and services.
Work4Dementia: Development Of An Evidence-based Intervention To Build Capacity And Resilience For The Australian Dementia Care Workforce
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,220.00
Summary
The care workforce is rapidly approaching a staffing crisis associated with the dementia epidemic. An innovative evidence-based intervention (Work4Dementia) aimed to build the capacity and resilience of the dementia care workforce will be developed and tested. Strategies will apply psychological approaches to enhance opportunities for meaningful social interactions at work. It is envisaged this will avert poor quality care stemming from an unstable workforce due to employees leaving their jobs.
Development And Validation Of The First Culturally Based Quality Of Life Tool For Aboriginal Australians Living With Dementia Or Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,435.00
Summary
Enhancing quality of life (QoL) is the central goal of care providers for clients with dementia. A QoL tool identifies areas of need, enabling strategies to be planned and evaluated accordingly. Dementia is highly prevalent in Aboriginal Australians. There is no QoL tool for Aboriginal Australians living with dementia. This project will develop and test a QoL tool with Aboriginal Australians living with dementia or other cognitive impairment. The factors affecting QoL will also be identified.
‘Agents Of Change’: Improving Post Diagnosis Care For People With Dementia And Their Carers Through The Establishment Of A National Quality Collaborative To Implement Guideline Recommendations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$770,518.00
Summary
This project aims to improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers by focussing on three areas of post diagnostic care: exercise, multicomponent occupational therapy to promote independence and carer support programs. We will establish networks with health professionals at a variety of organisations across Australia and work with these health professionals to improve care practices within their organisation.
Increasing Rates Of Advance Care Planning For Individuals With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,421.00
Summary
Advanced care planning improves care provided to individuals with dementia at the end of life, and lessens the burden on surviving carers and relatives.However, more than half of all people with dementia do not have an advance care plan. This study will test the effectiveness of a strategy to increase use of a website that has been developed by Alzheimer's Australia to assist people with dementia to document an advance care plan.
Improving Outcomes For Community Dwelling People With Dementia And Their Support Persons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$719,340.00
Summary
This program of work, consisting of two themes, will build evidence for improving outcomes for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their support persons. Theme 1 studies will gather descriptive data on the experience of person-centred care among PLWD and their support persons. Theme two will evaluate the impact of interventions in the primary care and community setting in improving quality of care and quality of life outcomes for PLWD and their support persons.