Retirement and ageing: previous research
Consumer-directed care
Increased choice in aged care services is an international trend, driven by demographic changes and consumer advocacy. This review of the literature on consumer-directed, flexible care pointed to better outcomes for consumers and to cost efficiencies. The authors signalled several key issues for improving choice and flexibility in Australian aged care services, and proposed a national trial of consumer-directed aged care packages in Australia.
Paper
Carmel Laragy and Gerard Naughtin 2009, Increasing consumer choice in aged care services (PDF file, 169 KB)
Transfers between hospitals and aged care
This study of transfers of frail older people between hospitals and residential care was undertaken by two fourth-year social work students from La Trobe University. They considered discharge procedures, cooperative care, and communication and information, with particular reference to the Yellow Envelope, a tool designed to ensure key patient information is readily available at all transfer stages. Their report includes recommendations for further improvements.
Laura Meese and Jennifer Poole 2008, Improving transfers between hospitals and residential care facilities (PDF file, 241 KB)
Outcomes for older people with complex or chronic care needs
Involving a partnership between the Brotherhood of St Laurence and La Trobe University, with support from St George’s and North West Aged Care Assessment Services, this 12-month longitudinal study explored the take-up of community services recommended in aged care assessments.
Report
Karen Teshuva, Lucy Nelms, Victoria Johnson, Peter Foreman and Janet Stanley 2007, Outcomes for older people with chronic and complex needs: a longitudinal examination of the use of community services following an aged care assessment in Victoria (PDF file, 257 KB)
Outcomes for older people summary (PDF file, 68 KB)
Opportunities for socially isolated older Australians
This research documented the Brotherhood’s learning from its Socialisation Program which aimed to reduce social isolation among older people and people with disabilities.
Report
Michael Hillier 2007, Rebuilding connections: creating opportunities for socially isolated older Australians: evaluation of the Brotherhood of St Laurence Community Care Socialisation Program (PDF file, 190 KB)
Ageing in the city
Commissioned by the Brotherhood’s Aged and Community Care Team, two researchers from Deakin University explored ‘ageing in the city’, through biographical interviews with twelve older or frail people who were clients of the Brotherhood’s services. They found that there were often complex connections between people’s poverty, their precarious or problematic relationships, insecure or unsafe housing and ageing bodies and failing health.
Report
Karl Nunkoosing and Kay Cook 2006, ‘I have had a past and I suppose I have a future, but …’: the experience of older people coping with reduced resources, places of meaning, social networks, and health (PDF file, 118 KB)
Social exclusion among older people
This research aimed to improve the understanding of older people living in poverty, with a view to assisting service and policy developments. The authors interviewed twelve Brotherhood clients to explore the nature and dimensions of social exclusion. Their report includes people’s comments on topics ranging from income, housing, health care and transport to independence and participation.
Report
Catherine Waterhouse and Philippa Angley 2005, Social exclusion among older people: a preliminary study from inner city Melbourne (PDF file, 125 KB)
Informal care for older Australians
The Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Myer Foundation supported a study of the future demand and supply of informal care for older Australians, commissioned by Carers Australia and carried out by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), University of Canberra.
Report
Simon Kelly and Richard Percival 2004, Who's going to care? Informal care and an ageing population, NATSEM (PDF file, 394 KB)
Older people and independence
This study of the concept of independence showed that while providers of community care were aiming to support ‘independent living’ by offering services for older people to remain in their homes, many older people regarded independence as being able to manage without help from others. These contrasting views posed a challenge for policy development and service delivery.
Report
Brotherhood of St Laurence 2003, What value independence? Is it a barrier to HACC services for financially disadvantaged older people? (PDF file, 394 KB)
Community care workforce planning
This joint research project of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Victorian Association of Health and Extended Care (VAHEC) explored the challenge of recruiting staff to meet the needs of increasing numbers of frail older people and people with a disability who wish to remain living at home.
Report
Philippa Angley and Belinda Newman 2002, Who will care? The recruitment and retention of community care (aged and disability) workers (PDF file, 270 KB)
Host homes and dementia care
This research was an evaluation of an innovative host-home respite program for elderly people with dementia and their carers, run by the Brotherhood as part of the respite services of the Banksia Centre in Carrum Downs. Offered to small groups in a careworker’s home, the program began as an alternative for those who were unable to use centre-based respite programs.
Report
Sonia Holm and Stephen Ziguras 2001, 'It's the simple things that matter': an evaluation of the Banksia host-home respite program (PDF file, 265 KB)