A silent mental health epidemic is sweeping our aged care homes. Up to 80 per cent of aged care residents experience depression, and as many as 60 per cent live with anxiety. Yet psychological support remains limited.
Macquarie University researchers are set to tackle this crisis following a prestigious $850,000 grant from the Ian Potter Foundation to a major new program to develop and deliver tailored psychological treatments for older Australians living in residential aged care.
The researchers, from the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, will partner with not-for-profit aged care provider Eldercare to create the five-year Ageing Wisely in Aged Care program, that they hope will address one of the most significant and overlooked gaps in Australia's mental health system.
The program will focus on developing evidence-based, scalable interventions designed for aged care settings.
"We are thrilled to receive this generous support from The Ian Potter Foundation, which will allow us to take important steps toward addressing the silent epidemic of anxiety and depression in aged care homes," Professor Viviana Wuthrich, project lead at the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, said.
"Older adults in these aged care homes are too often underserved, and this funding will help us work directly with residents and staff to co-design solutions that meet their needs."
The Ian Potter Foundation's grants are among the most competitive in Australia and are awarded only to projects with transformative potential to positively impact society. The funding will enable Professor Wuthrich and her team to adapt their successful Ageing Wisely program — which has already delivered profound benefits in community and hospital settings — for aged care.
Dr Jessamine Chen and Professor Viviana Wuthrich will work with Eldercare on the newly funded Ageing Wisely in Aged Care program.
Working closely with Eldercare, the team will develop co-designed training modules and resources, empowering aged care staff to deliver therapeutic interventions directly to residents. Following a pilot evaluation, the adapted program and training resources will be further evaluated for clinical effectiveness and implementation success in residential aged care homes across Australia.
"This project offers the potential to reshape mental health care in aged care homes across the nation. By building capacity of the staff, we're also laying the foundation for sustainable change in mental health support for this vulnerable population," Research Fellow and Ageing Wisely Project Manager, Dr Jessamine Chen said.
Following successful implementation, the research team will seek to scale the program, provide training and resources in a variety of languages and consideration to reflect the diverse lived experiences and cultural backgrounds of aged care residents.
Eldercare's Chief Executive, Jane Pickering, praised the partnership with Macquarie University.
"This collaboration is a testament to the power of research-driven solutions that put people first. We're excited to see the immense potential of Ageing Wisely unfold in our care homes. Developing sustainable clinical interventions is a key focus of our recovery oriented mental health approach."
The Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre has a rich history of working collaboratively with stakeholders to address inequities in mental health outcomes across all age groups. Its expertise in co-designed interventions positions it as a leader in advancing the wellbeing of ageing populations.
Paul Conroy, CEO of The Ian Potter Foundation, said: "At the Foundation, we are committed to supporting projects that are shaped by the needs of the community.
"This initiative exemplifies our new public health funding objectives by bringing together scientific expertise and community leadership to address the urgent mental health needs of older Australians in aged care.
"In direct response to Eldercare's request to adapt the proven Ageing Wisely model for residential settings, we are confident this collaboration will deliver meaningful, evidence-based support for residents experiencing anxiety and depression."
