Our research

This study examined whether online communities of practice (CoPs) supported aged care staff to improve dementia care, compared to workshop-based training. Aged care workers (N = 384) were allocated non-randomly to join an eight-month long CoP or to attend workshop training. Both groups were delivered online.

Participants in both groups significantly improved on dementia knowledge; participants did not report improvements in dementia-related attitudes, competencies or practices. However, CoP participants who regularly attended meetings were more likely to report changes in dementia practice or policy than workshop participants.

CoP is an acceptable training method for improving dementia care competencies and practices of Australian aged care workers, but success is associated with engagement in CoP activities.

Australian aged care quality standards include person-centred care practices, although opportunity for residents' identity expression can be limited by the facility environment. Staff cannot implement such practices without first understanding residents' history, preferences and values.

This study examined the potential for digital life stories to improve aged care staff's knowledge and understanding of residents and care practices. Digital life stories are short movies that are co-created with residents to encapsulate a focused portrayal of their achievements, interests, values and significant life moments.

Such stories include narration, photographs, video footage, music and sound elements. Sixty-one staff participated in a mixed-methods study, completing measures before, immediately after, and weeks following viewing a resident’s story.

Quantitative analysis showed significant, stable gains in knowledge and understanding, while qualitative responses revealed enhanced ability to personalise care and improve interactions. The study suggests that digital life stories can bridge identity expression gaps in residential aged care, supporting person-centred practices in line with Australian quality standards. Incorporating such tools may help staff deliver more empathetic, individualised and meaningful care.

This study explored how expectations about ageing influence life satisfaction in older adults, focusing on underlying social mechanisms. A sample of 251 Australians aged 60 and over completed self-report questionnaires.

Results indicated that sense of belonging mediated the relationship between ageing expectations and life satisfaction. Furthermore, confidence in maintaining social relationships partially mediated the link between ageing expectations and sense of belonging.

These findings suggest that positive expectations about ageing may enhance older adults’ life satisfaction by strengthening their sense of social connectedness and confidence in sustaining relationships.

The study underscores the critical role of social constructs in shaping wellbeing in later life and provides insight into how ageing expectations may influence psychological outcomes.

Even though nearly 50 to 60 percent of older adults living in nursing home have high levels of depression and anxiety, there is relatively little attention to psychological treatment approaches to mental health issues for such populations.

In this study, we highlight how CBT can be successfully adapted and implemented with beneficial results. The ELders AT Ease (ELATE) program is a unique service delivery model illustrating delivery of CBT with older adults living in nursing homes.

The six modules forming the program, based on CBT, are described. A systems wide approach to delivery is emphasised and illustrated through two clinical case descriptions. Such mental health programs can enrich the lives of residents.

The demand for residential aged care services has grown exponentially with Australia’s aging population. Compared to older adults living in the community, older adults residing in residential aged care are usually older and more highly dependent on care.

Residential aged care staff tend to experience high workloads and care for residents with complex health care needs. Thus, burnout amongst this staff cohort is highly prevalent.

Interviews were conducted with fifteen care staff members regarding their experiences of burnout, contributors to burnout and strategies to manage burnout within the residential aged care environment.

A thematic framework approach was applied to the analysis and three themes were identified: governance, physical and emotional exhaustion, and communication. It is important to address strategies to manage staff's burnout levels through staff's perspectives.

This study examined if the number of psychologists working primarily with older adults has increased over time, and the extent to which such patterns or work were associated with clinical placement experiences and barriers and facilitators to working with older adults.

An online survey was distributed to members of professional psychology organisations in Australia. We found a significant increase in the proportion of clients over 65 seen by psychologists in their current roles, compared to previous surveys of psychologists specialising in services to older adults.

We also found a highly significant increase in the number of psychologists who had had clinical exposure to older adults via their postgraduate clinical placements. Suggested factors for improving access to older adult clients were training opportunities such as specialist qualifications in geropsychology. Remuneration and placement opportunities within aged care also appeared to be influence the decision to work with older adults.

Ageism has been associated with negative physical and psychological consequences for older adults, including the lack of acceptance of physical appearance. Research focusing on the association between ageism and body image within older adults has been limited.

The aim of the current study was to expand the current literature focusing on body image within older adults, specifically to understand how older adults’ subjective ageism impacts their body image. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 55 older adults responding to a series of questionnaires, including BAS-2, BAPQ and the health-related changes questionnaire.

A correlation analysis found that higher subjective ageism was associated with lower body appreciation. The findings from a hierarchical regression analysis found that poor physical health was the strongest predictor for low body image within older adults, and that subjective ageism does not significantly explain any variance in body image for older adults when physical health is included.

The findings highlight that more research is needed to understand the relationship between subjective ageism and body image within older adults, particularly the potential effects that physical health may have on the body image of older adults.

This study examined if self-efficacy moderated the relationships between negative life events, hassles and life satisfaction in older adults. The involved 176 older adults aged 60+ completing online questionnaires.

Two moderation models were tested, controlling for gender, socioeconomic and health status. The relationship between negative life event and life satisfaction was stronger for individuals with lower self-efficacy.

There was no evidence that self-efficacy moderated the relationship between hassles and life satisfaction. The study found that self-efficacy is important for life satisfaction in context of negative life events. Interventions for improving self-efficacy are needed to enhance resilience in older Australians.

Despite facing various life stressors, older adults appear report having high levels of life satisfaction. This research aimed to identify the most important predictors of life satisfaction for older adults.

Participants (N = 161, mean age = 73.03, SD = 9.08) completed online measures of life satisfaction, loneliness, social isolation, autonomy, self-efficacy and meaning in life. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to relationships between these predictors and life satisfaction, above and beyond economic, physical and demographic variables.

Social isolation, autonomy and self-efficacy were the most important predictors of life satisfaction for older adults. Such findings suggest a role for these factors in clinical practice for supporting life satisfaction in late life.

This research examined domains of life important for life satisfaction across the life span. The sample comprised 495 adults who were 18 years or older (mean age = 49.92 years, SD = 20.30, range = 18-96 years).

Participants rated their satisfaction in various life domains. The association between these ratings and overall life satisfaction was examined. Age significantly moderated the relationship between domains and life satisfaction.

The relationship between the following domains and life satisfaction was stronger with age: physical material wellbeing, personal development and fulfillment, relationships with others, recreation, and community participation.

These findings suggest that these domains become more important for life satisfaction as we get older.