Current projects

• Post-doctoral researcher Dr Danielle Cave is codesigning food fortification options with older adults in residential aged care. Funded through UniSC Launch grant and in partnership with Trisco and Darling Downs HHS, we are trialling a water-soluble tasteless protein fortifier that may be palatable to older adults. If this proves successful, it means the product could be used in the older person's choice of drink instead of having to have their morning cup of tea replaced with a milkshake or other product to hide the taste of the supplement.
• A national implementation trial of PREDICT, a codesigned toolkit that in partnership with caregivers hopes to prevent and improve management of delirium has recently commenced, funded by NHMRC. PREDICT has shown success in reducing delirium incidence in our pilot trials but this larger trial is needed to provide high quality evidence and to determine if caregiver burden can be reduced through partnership on the healthcare team. Hospital partners from Metro North Health are one of 5 sites across 3 states and territories.
• Dr Andy Ward is leading a national project in partnership with Keyton, one of Australia’s largest retirement community operators. Creative Conversations is a project using World Cafe methodology to gain end-user / resident perspectives into the future of Australia’s retirement community sector. With 10% of people aged over 75 living in one of these retirement models, the need for the provision of in-home care, assistive living, and end-of-life care in these environments is significant with little to no planning on the part of the operators or the residents. This project is funded by industry and will result in a national sectoral publication from the project findings.

Achievements and impact

• Marsden E, Craswell A, Taylor A, et al. (2022). Translation of the geriatric emergency department intervention into other emergency departments: a post implementation evaluation of outcomes for older adults. BMC Geriatrics, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02999-4 
• Robson S, Craswell A. (2022). Experiences of emergency department nurses using palliative care resources and associated tools in the provision of quality care of a dying patient. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2022.28.10.464 
• Gurung A, Edwards S, Romeo M, Craswell A. (2022). A tale of two generations: Case study of intergenerational living in residential aged care. Collegian, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.08.002  
• Ward, A., Clarke, G., Close, I., & Wadsworth, D. (2024). Pragmatic co-design methodology: a tale of university and retirement village friendship. CoDesign, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15710882.2024.2345912
• Rosenberg, J., Flynn, T., Merollini, K., Linn, J., Nabukalu, D. & Davis, C. (2024). Exploring the ‘citizen organization’: an evaluation of a regional Australian community-based palliative care service model. Palliative Care and Social Practice, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524241260427
• Karascony, S., Martyn, J-A., Rosenberg, J. & Andrews, S. (2024). A qualitative evidence synthesis exploring the attitudes, beliefs and values of the long-term care workforce towards palliative care. Progress in Palliative Care, DOI: https://doi/org/10.1080/09699260.2024.2378534
• Merollini, K. M. D., Nabukalu, D., Flynn, T., Linn, J., Davis, C., & Rosenberg, J. (2024). Feasibility and economic benefits of community-based palliative care in regional Australia: A case study with cost analysis. Progress in Palliative Care, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09699260.2024.2374604
• Aoun, S., Rosenberg, J., Richmond, R. & Rumbold, B. (2023). The Compassionate Communities Connectors Program: Experiences of supported families and referring healthcare providers. Palliative Care and Social Practice, DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231173705 
• Other evidence of impact of research in this theme includes translation into practice of the Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) and the DandELinE toolkit – decision making and end of life in emergency departments to improve care of older adults across all Qld public hospital EDs.