2019 grant recipients

Dr Vera Camões-Costa (Department of General Practice, Monash University) - Chief Investigator

Other investigators: Dr Chris Barton (Department of General Practice, Monash University), Dr Samantha Chakraborty ((Department of General Practice, Monash University), A/Prof Bianca Brijnath (National Ageing Research Institute), Dr Xiaoping Lin (Registry Science and Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine), Dr Alana Hewitt (Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University)

Project title: Mental health outcomes of family carers during the transition of their family member to residential aged care

Funding awarded: $14,987

Publications / outcomes:

  • Camões-Costa, V., Loganathan, J., Barton, C., Chakraborty, S., Hewitt, A., Lin, X., & Brijnath, B. (2022). Factors contributing to the mental health outcomes of carers during the transition of their family member to residential aged care: a systematic search and narrative review. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), [433]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03105-4
  • Chow B, Camões-Costa V. Support for informal carers of older people in the transition to residential aged care: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evid Synth. 2021 Jun;19(6):1418-1424. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00231
  • Camões-Costa, V., Taylor, B., Barton, C., Chakraborty, S., Hewitt, A., Lin, X., & Brijnath, B. (under review). Mental health outcomes of family-carers after admission to aged care: A cross-sectional survey study.

Dr Surya Girinatha Nurzaman (School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia) - Chief Investigator

Other investigators:  A/Prof Teh Pei Lee (Department of Management, School of Business, Gerontechnology Laboratory, Monash University Malaysia), A/Prof Libby Callaway (RAIL Research Centre and Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University Peninsula), Dr Em Bould (Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University Peninsula)

Project title: User Acceptance Analysis of An Affordable Soft Service Robot In Object Retrieval Tasks

Funding awarded: $15,000

Publications / outcomes:

A manuscript is currently being finalised for submission to Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. The aim of the publication is to report on results from the exploration of Australian occupational therapists’ perspectives on the use of physical assistance robots by people experiencing disability or age-related changes, who are living in the community.

Dr Sze-Ee Soh (Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University) - Chief Investigator

Other investigators: Associate Professor Ilana Ackerman (Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, SPHPM, Monash University), Dr Darshini Ayton (Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, SPHPM, Monash University), Professor Helen Skouteris (Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, SPHPM, Monash University), Professor Sally Green (Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, SPHPM, Monash University)

Project title: Beyond the ‘old and frail’ – translating falls prevention evidence into osteoarthritis care

Funding awarded: $14,925

Publications / outcomes:

The project has led to new collaborations with researchers at Singapore Institute of Technology and La Trobe University where Dr Soh developed the balance and falls resources for people with knee osteoarthritis that has been included in the TREK ‘My Knee’ education and self-management toolkit. Dr Soh was also invited to present the findings of the project at an ADvANCE (Advances in Allied Health, Nursing and Clinical Education) Seminar at the Singapore Institute of Technology in October 2022. The team are currently testing the feasibility and acceptability of the 'Be Your Best' intervention program in community-dwelling older adults with hip and or knee osteoarthritis. The methodology from this project will also be used to adapt, implement and translate 'Be Your Best' to other patient groups that are at a high risk of falls e.g. cancer survivors.

  • Four ‘Be Your Best’ modules have been developed with consumers – Better Balance, Better Bones, Better Joints and Better Life
  • Presentation of the findings to:
    1. a symposium on Falls Prevention in Osteoarthritis at the 55th Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Conference, November 2022
    2. a poster presentation at the IAGG Asia/Oceania Regional Congress, June 2023
    3. a poster presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society & World Falls Congress, November 2023

Dr Em Bould (Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University) - Chief Investigator

Other investigators: A/Prof Libby Callaway (RAIL Research Centre and Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University), Dr Aislinn Lalor (RAIL Research Centre and Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University), A/Prof Narelle Warren (Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University)

Research support staff: Dr Joanne Burke (Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare and Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University)

Project title: Fostering and suPAWting engagement in meaningful activity and social connection: Dogs as a conduit to community inclusion for people with cognitive disabilities

Funding awarded: $14,685

Publications / outcomes:

This pilot work has led to successful funding for a new project focused on animal-assisted activity in residential aged care titled Pilot of an Animal-Assisted Activity program in residential aged care to support intergenerational and intercultural social connections for healthy ageing as well as the publication and video summary listed above. Details of the project funded through The Community Health and Hospitals Program Grant, via the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, can be found here:  : https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2022/11/14/1385253/can-pets-help-cure-loneliness-new-research-plans-to-find-out