Aged care News and Research

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New eye-tracking technology aids in aged care quality assessment

Memory loss among older Australians is on the rise as the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement - but a new technique tested by Flinders University researchers that investigates cognitive skills through eye-tracking technology may be used to help incorporate all older people's preferences into aged care policy and practice.

4 Aug 2020

Intergenerational program aims to deliver benefits for the oldest and youngest generations

While our oldest and youngest generations may seem worlds apart, a new ageing well initiative will bring them together in an innovative intergenerational education and development program that will connect children with older people in a structured way.

11 Jul 2020

WHO urged to recognize airborne transmission of COVID-19

Now, a team of international scientists, including 239 health experts from 32 countries, has written an open letter to the WHO urging the organization to revise its recommendations for the spread of SARS-CoV-2, due to mounting evidence that the disease is airborne for more extended periods than the WHO advisory.

6 Jul 2020

Pre-frailty occurs in 45% of 40-49 year old people, study finds

With all eyes on avoiding major illness this year, health researchers are urging people as young as 40 to build physical and mental health to reduce or even avoid 'frailty' and higher mortality risk.

16 Apr 2020

Australia's first coronavirus death puts country on alert

The rapid spread of the coronavirus outside China has intensified as the total number of infections globally has topped 90,000, and the number of deaths reached more than 3,000. The sudden surge of cases in Italy, Iran, and South Korea have left health officials concerned about the magnitude of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

2 Mar 2020

Brisbane’s grass pollen season the worst on record, says QUT professor

Brisbane’s grass pollen levels over the past two months have been up to four times higher than levels recorded anywhere in Australia since comparative records have been kept, QUT’s Professor Janet Davies told a federal parliamentary inquiry this week.

20 Feb 2020

Survey highlights overuse of antibiotics in aged-care homes in Australia

On any given day, almost 10% of residents in aged-care homes in Australia are using an antibiotic, but only around 3% have any signs or symptoms of infection.

14 Nov 2019

New program aims to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for older adults

Preventing stressful, and often unnecessary, hospital admissions for older Australians living in residential aged care facilities is the aim of a new $1.9 million program funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.

5 Sep 2019

Newly developed model predicts salmonella outbreaks several months in advance

Australia has more salmonella outbreaks than any other country in the world, with the number of cases doubling over the last decade.

19 Apr 2019

Nut consumption could be key to better cognitive health in older people

Long-term, high nut consumption could be the key to better cognitive health in older people according to new research from the University of South Australia.

19 Mar 2019

The term “elderly” must be avoided in medicine

According to Dr Javad Hekmat-Panah, a neurologist from University of Chicago, doctors may soon need to watch when they term a patient “elderly”.

4 Mar 2019

Violence, malnutrition and lack of care reported in huge numbers in Australia's aged care system

According to the reports of a recent inquiry, inspectors looking at aged care homes in Australia over the last year have reported an alarming rise in missing residents, violence that was not reported and severe degrees of malnutrition among the residents.

12 Feb 2019

New guidelines to make swallowing safer for people in Australian nursing homes

The ability to eat and drink are things most Australians take for granted. That’s why Speech Pathology Australia is an active participant in an international initiative that is working to make swallowing safer for people in Australian hospitals and nursing homes.

18 Jan 2019

Poor blood oxygenation during sleep predicts chance of heart-related death

Elderly men who experience extended episodes of interrupted breathing while asleep have a high risk of heart problems. Research shows for the first time that poor blood oxygenation is a good indicator of the chance of heart-related death, which cannot be attributed to sleep apnoea alone.

18 Jan 2019

New medical program keeps elderly aged care residents out of hospital

A medical program developed by clinicians at one of Australia's largest hospitals, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, is successfully keeping elderly aged care residents out of hospital and reducing demand on emergency departments.

7 Aug 2018

Study explores indoor thermal comfort of older people living in residential care homes

Indoor temperatures in aged care homes could have a dramatic impact on the wellbeing of residents, particularly those living with dementia.

2 Aug 2018

Combination of physical fitness and aortic stiffness explains rate of memory decline in older people

The rate of decline in certain aspects of memory may be explained by a combination of overall physical fitness and the stiffness of the central arteries, researchers from Swinburne's Centre for Human Psychopharmacology have found.

12 Jun 2018

Dementia patients tend to wander and become lost

The tendency of people with dementia to wander and become lost has led QUT researchers to recommend a 'Silver Alert' system, similar to Amber Alerts for missing children, be activated when someone with the diagnosis of dementia is reported lost.

25 May 2018

Study: Effective intervention can reduce medication overuse in aged care facilities

Effective intervention can reduce medication overuse in Residential Aged Care Facilities, the latest University of Tasmania research shows.

14 May 2018

New guide to cope with dementia during natural disasters

A natural disaster is a traumatic experience for anyone involved but the dangers are even greater for people with dementia. A new guide from the QUT-based Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration: Carers and Consumers (DCRC-CC) aims to prepare those who care for people with dementia to cope.

27 Apr 2018