Official name:
Introducing the Amplifon Foundation "Ciao!” Program to Australian residential aged care facilities

About the research:
The Australian trial of Amplifon Foundation’s “Ciao!” Program responds to findings from a Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety survey, which identified loneliness as a major challenge for more than 200,000 Australians living in residential aged care.

Phase 1: “Ciao!” Program pilot

Launched in July 2024 in Melbourne, key features of the “Ciao!” Program pilot include:

• Installation of 80-inch screens in four Melbourne aged care facilities for residents from different areas and cultural communities.
• Engaging live, interactive content such as chair-based yoga, virtual travel, therapeutic gardening and guide dog puppy training.
• Video technology enabling residents to connect with residents in other facilities.

Project timing: 06/10/2023–05/10/2024

Phase 2: Expanding the "Ciao! Program" to Australian residential aged care facilities

Building on the success of the initial pilot, Monash University and the Amplifon Foundation are expanding the “Ciao!” Program to 12 aged care facilities – eight in Melbourne and four in Sydney.

This next phase will not only broaden access to engaging, interactive content but also allow researchers to collect resident-level data to assess feasibility and participation. By recruiting residents and tracking individual outcomes, the project aims to generate substantive evidence on the program’s effectiveness in improving social engagement for older adults in residential aged care. This expansion represents a significant step toward creating meaningful social connections and enhancing quality of life through innovative technology.

Project timing: 01/10/2024–31/12/2025