Uni and aged care provider partner to combat loneliness

FEDERATION University has partnered with in-home health and aged care service Silverchain on a co-funded PhD scholarship aiming to combat loneliness in older people.

With supervision from university and Silverchain staff, the PhD candidate is expected to collaborate with researchers and carers over three-and-a-half years to provide solutions to boost clients’ quality of life.

A study in Plos One has reported about 28 per cent of older people in Australia and similar countries are lonely.

“While this analysis… focuses on older adults in general, risk factors for loneliness – such as partner loss, a limited social network or social activity, poor perceived health and depressed mood – are often heightened among people accessing in home aged care,” said Silverchain director of research discovery, Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison.

“This emphasises the need for targeted research and intervention for this vulnerable group.

“Silverchain has already invested in developing a unique support program, called Enhanced Management of Home-Based Elders with Depression, which aims to reduce symptoms of depression in older Australians receiving in home care.

“This PhD, made possible by Silverchain Foundation, represents an exciting opportunity to combine academic excellence with practical innovation, and make a real difference in the lives of older Australians.”

FedUni’s Professor Colette Browning, a project lead alongside Adjunct Professor Davison, said it’s crucial for care providers to innovate when it comes

to helping clients socialise, and supporting them with their mental health.

“This partnership allows us to develop evidence-based interventions that can be widely implemented across the aged care system,” she said.

The PhD candidate will be based at the FedUni Mount Helen and/or Berwick campuses. Studies are expected to explore loneliness among in-home aged care patients with a goal to create practical solutions.

They will receive a $35,000 annual allowance and a $10,000 top up.