Research and Innovation

Improving the Mental Health of Older Australians Navigating the Transition into Residential Aged Care (ON-TRAC) is a project that sets out to improve the mental health of older Australians navigating the transition into residential aged care. The five-year project involves co-designing evidence-informed psychological interventions to optimise the wellbeing of older Australians across three locations. Two of these locations are Uniting AgeWell residential aged care sites and the experiences of participants will then be evaluated. 

ON-TRAC closely aligns with Uniting AgeWell’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Model, providing numerous benefits to our organisation and customers. 

At the conclusion of the project, the lead researchers of the project aim to deliver a comprehensive report of findings, outcomes and recommendations to present in industry and conference settings as well as submit to publications.

Engaging Residents and Families About Managing Psychotropic Medicines in Aged Care Facilities (EngageMeds) is a project that aims to improve communication about the management of psychotropic medicines in aged care settings, particularly among residents and their families. This three-year research project is a collaboration between Uniting AgeWell and Monash University and is being conducted at Kingsville Community and Box Hill Community. The project aims to modify communication so as to be more user-friendly and effective. The findings will then be turned into shareable educational materials.

Uniting AgeWell has partnered with Monash University to evaluate suicide prevention gatekeeper training for aged care workers. 

The project aims to evaluate the impact of gatekeeper training on staff and increased knowledge of suicide prevention in the aged care sector. Researchers will work with Uniting AgeWell to deliver the training and resources to staff and collect data for analysis towards further iterations.

As a project partner, Uniting AgeWell will receive training and resources for Strathdon Community and Strath-Haven Community throughout 2025.

The Herd Intergenerational Learning Centre is Australia’s first shared-roof intergenerational learning, childcare centre.

Children attending the centre and residents at Uniting AgeWell Andrew Kerr Care Community in Mornington regularly come together to enjoy activities such as art, music, lunch, storytelling, or just visiting. Opportunities for elders to volunteer at the centre are also part of the mix.

The Centre officially opened Friday 3 March 2023.

Uniting AgeWell has engaged a PhD candidate to evaluate the HERD project, with the name of their paper being “A realist evaluation of one of Australia’s first co-located intergenerational learning centres: what works, for whom, and under what circumstances?”

This groundbreaking research looked at how we can best support aged care staff to identify and meet the mental health needs of older people in the community.

Talking Mental Health – a research study partnership between Uniting AgeWell, Flinders University and the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) – looked at guidelines, procedures and implementation strategies to support staff and build confidence around mental health as an aspect of aged care.

The project aimed to co-design and test care protocols that would enable better identification of our customers’ mental health needs and provide improved access to intervention.

Interactive training provided our staff with the tools to proactively recognise our customers’ needs, gain greater understanding of factors impacting mental and emotional wellbeing as we age and offer practical methods to create space for open conversation.

“Home care workers are in a really important position to have open conversations and provide companionship and reduce social isolation for their client and look after their emotional wellbeing,” said Anita Goh, Associate Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist at the NARI.

Learn about the project

Alongside Terrapin Theatre in Tasmania, Uniting AgeWell was a Founding Industry Partner of a unique program that used theatre and puppetry to intentionally enhance health and wellbeing outcomes for people in aged care settings.

The partnership followed a successful period of collaboration in the ‘Forever Young Puppetry in Aged Care’ project that saw residents at our Mornington Community, Lillian Martin participate in the co-design of the show through a series of workshops intended to tap into their collective memories. Aside from performance, individual bedside visits and spontaneous interactions were an important part of the program.

The Premiere Performance season of Forever Young was covered by the ABC and you can watch or read about it online.

This partnership with the University of Melbourne and the Department of Health and Human Services provided point of care testing machines to eight Uniting AgeWell residential homes across Victoria and Tasmania.

The project investigated if the TGA-approved rapid onsite test for the diagnosis of influenza and COVID-19 was easy or difficult to use. It is envisaged that the use of rapid onsite tests will speed the detection of influenza and COVID-19. During the data collection period, no influenza cases were uncovered in residents.

This partnership with the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, the University of Sydney and the Sydney Local Health District involved training Home Care Workers to undertake Exercise Support Tasks.

Physiotherapists would then provide sessions via Telehealth to home care customers using the Uniting AgeWell Video Calling Tablets.

The Exercise Coaches attended the home for the online physiotherapy sessions and additional exercise sessions throughout the week, assisting the customer to undertake their individualised exercise program. This project was well received by customers.

In 2023, the Top Up Project was awarded funding by the Second Round of the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) Grants Program.

Uniting AgeWell worked with Dossy.co to pilot the ‘Dossy’ video calling app for older people.

The Dossy app has been designed specifically for older people with the aim of overcoming technology barriers and build confidence in initiating video calls to family.

In 2023, The Dossy Project was awarded funding by the Second Round of the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) Grants Program.

Uniting AgeWell expanded the project in 2023 through the Dossy Community Connect trial which included a team of volunteers available for customers to call and increase their circle of social connections.

The BEFRIENDAS study was a randomised controlled trial investigating the impact of a befriending program on levels of depression, anxiety, social support and loneliness in older people living in residential aged care.

The program was provided by volunteers who were trained and supported by NARI. This partnership with NARI was funded by the NHMRC and Beyond Blue and was available at six Victorian Uniting AgeWell homes.