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Aged care highlights from ROAR

ROAR is an on-line directory that contains 956 records of current and completed research projects in the area of primary health care; information about primary health care researchers and their research interests; links to research organisations; and information about research funding.

The on-line directory is intended to facilitate networking, collaborations and the sharing of knowledge and we are aiming for an accurate record of Australian research and researchers in the Primary Health Care sector. The following is a selection of the 55 records that were returned using the search terms 'aged care' and 'ageing health'.

PROFILES

Prof Esther May Lan Chang
Director of Research, School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney
E: e.chang@uws.edu.au
Research interests: Aged Care Nursing, Nursing Education, Role Stress Nursing

Ms Joanne Dollard
PhD candidate
Department of General Practice
University of Adelaide
E: joanne.dollard@adelaide.edu.au
Research interests: Healthy ageing, public health perspective on Aboriginal health, cultural awareness, rural and remote health, health system evaluation, falls prevention and physical activity.

Dr Tuly Rosenfeld
Senior Specialist Geriatrician, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Adviser NSW Department of Health
Prince of Wales Hospital and the University of NSW
E: t.rosenfeld@unsw.edu.au
Research interests: Service Systems in Primary and Geriatric Care, Ageing Health, Cognitive Impairment, Adverse Effects of Medications, SAFTE Care Program.

PROJECTS

The impact of Tai Chi in delaying the onset of disability among older people

LM Day, K Hill, L Flicker, DJ Jolley, L Segal

This study addresses the issue of disability among our ageing population. Preservation of function among our older citizens, and their capacity to live independently, is of significant social, public health and economic benefit. The aims of this study are to:

• test the efficacy of Tai Chi in delaying disability among older people, prior to its onset,
• investigate the mechanisms by which Tai Chi intervenes in the disability pathway,
• determine the cost-benefits of Tai Chi for older people.

Status: In progress
Start year: 2006

Strength training social group program for community-dwelling older adults in rural Victoria: An evaluation

B Guest-Smith, B Hsu-Hage, S Liaw

The evaluation study aimed to demonstrate that a weekly progressive resistance exercise (strength training) social group program, conducted by fitness and nursing professionals, can improve physical function and social and mental wellbeing in a self-selected group of community dwelling rural adults, aged sixty years or more, living in northern Victoria, Australia.

Status: Complete
Start year: 2001 / End year: 2005

Dementia diagnosis: a controlled trial using IT quality indicator feedback to assess change in GP case-finding behaviour

FB Millard

This project aims to extract quality indicator (QI) data from computerised patient records to see if general practitioners (GPs) are checking elderly patients for dementia. The QI data will be fed back to the doctors together with education about the value of case finding, to see if detection rates improve.

Status: In progress
Start year: 2006 / End year: 2007