The projects and initiatives listed here were identified through an environmental scan focusing on meaningful lifestyle activities in aged care settings and are current as of May 2023. This list is not likely to be comprehensive. Please contact us if you would like us to consider an Australian study, project, or initiative for inclusion on this page.
For a complete overview of projects funded by ARIIA to address important gaps in the aged care workforce’s capability and knowledge, please refer to ARIIA Projects.
Research studies
Understanding social isolation as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease: Identifying Positive Ageing Strategies in Australian Communities
Lead organisation: Monash University
Status: In progress
Supporting organisation(s): -
Funding organisation: The Heart Foundation
This study investigates social isolation as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
HOW-R-U?
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke
Status: In progress
Supporting organisation(s): NSW Government Combatting Social Isolation for Seniors during COVID-19 Grant Program and Perpetual
Funding organisation: Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund
This project targets social isolation post-discharge. It will develop an intervention that matches patients with volunteers who will provide weekly telephone support for three months after hospital discharge
BEFRIENDING with GENIE: An intervention to reduce loneliness and increase social support and service access for people living with dementia and their caregivers from CaLD background (2023-2027)
Lead organisation: Edith Cowan University
Status: In progress
Supporting organisation(s): -
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund 2022 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
The BEFRIENDING with GENIE project aims to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their caregivers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds by reducing loneliness, increasing social support networks and improving access to, and knowledge about, appropriate services. It combines a successful BEFRIENDING program with a proven online social support network and engagement tool (GENIE) that will be piloted with 100 participants living in four states.
BEFRIENDAS study: The impact of befriending on depression, anxiety, social support and loneliness in older adults living in residential aged care facilities
Lead organisation: National Ageing Research Institute
Status: In progress
Supporting organisation(s): -
Funding organisation: Beyond Blue and the National Health and Medical Research Council
This project aims to determine the effectiveness of befriending on levels of depression, anxiety, social support and loneliness in older people living in residential aged care when provided by trained volunteers.
Impact of hearables & behavioural activation (BA) on mental distress and social isolation in hearing impaired older adult
Lead organisation: The University of Western Australia
Status: In progress
Supporting organisation(s): -
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council
The proposed project will aim to test if hearing amplification with personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) with or without a behavioural activation (BA) intervention program improves mood, relieves mental distress and social isolation, improves quality of life, and reduces health care costs in older adults with hearing loss. The study will be a 2x2 factorial design to randomise 240 older adults aged 65 years and older with mild-moderate hearing loss to a 6-month clinical trial of hearing amplification and/or BA compared with an education intervention control group..