The UNSW Ageing Futures Institute has funded 5 interdisciplinary projects that aim to address the complex issues of an ageing population.
The projects range from ageism in health, falls prevention in the home, assessing dementia risk and virtual rehabilitation and mobility for ageing in place. The Institute’s seed grant program, that has been running since 2019, supports the development of outstanding quality projects with demonstrated pathways to impact and longer-term research collaborations and impact across all facets of society.
Institute members have researched the feasibility and impact of a 10-week intergenerational program between older adults and preschool children.
Institute member Dr Patricia Morgan has led research to investigate the success of the Virtual Eastern Bay Villages: Te Kokoru Manaakitanga (VEBV: TKM), an ageing in place organization in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The commissioned report on this research has just been published on the New Zealand Office for Seniors’ - Te Tari Kaumātua’s website.
Institute member Dr Aryati Yashadhana has co-led research that explores the therapeutic effects of participation in a cultural camp for older Aboriginal peoples.
Dr Kim van Schooten has co-led efforts to capture accurate falls data and recommend strategies to prevent falls in older people living in long-term care settings (LTC).
A recent study has highlighted an important link between how older people perceive their neighbourhood and their levels of physical activity.
A new study into the health service use of carers have has offered valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by this group.
Institute member Dr Craig Sinclair has led work to address the key challenges in Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Australia.
ACP is a process that enables a person to plan for their future medical treatment and other care, for a time when they are not competent to make, or communicate, decisions for themselves. Whilst inherently an important consideration for older people, ACP is an important process for individuals and families across the life course.
A recent study has identified a range of barriers which impede community engagement in dementia risk-reduction behaviours across the lifespan.