Dr Claire Gough
Research Fellow, ARIIA
As we age, our focus shifts from work to other activities that give us a sense of purpose and enjoyment. However, "Australia has drifted into an ageist mindset that undervalues older people and limits their possibilities" (Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, 2019). By 2066, it is expected that 23% of the Australian population will be aged 65 years and over (AIHW, 2024). This presents the aged care sector with the task of deciphering how to care for larger populations and support individuals to age well.
Allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, podiatrists, and dietitians (among others), are experts in preventing, diagnosing, and treating a range of chronic conditions (AHPA, 2024). Allied health professionals have the skills to enhance and maintain functional mobility (which often declines with age), manage pain, and support ongoing independence. Therefore, the involvement of allied health professionals in aged care delivery can empower individuals to maintain function and participate in activities they enjoy.
At the 2024 ARIIA conference, we were joined by a panel of experienced allied health professionals to discuss "Ageing Well – Social Care, Allied Health, and Prevention." Hilary O’Connell described the decline and dependencies demonstrated with ageing and highlighted the importance of reablement to support individuals to be as independent as possible. Hilary suggested that increasing exercise can support the restoration of function and is often the difference between living at home and requiring residential aged care. Rik Dawson presented a range of technologies useful for increasing mobility and balance, suitable for use in aged care to support individuals to "thrive in older age." Rik discussed the complexities of providing physiotherapy in relation to current funding models. Stacey George presented outcomes from an evaluation of early intervention initiatives for healthy ageing in primary care, putting the spotlight on the need for quality-of-life measures across the ageing trajectory.
Questions from the floor shifted the focus from mobility, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy to the need for oral care and access to dentistry. There was rich discussion around the importance of maintaining oral health to support sufficient dietary intake, enabling older people to mobilize and participate in activities. Access to oral care and dentistry is perhaps overlooked in aged care and requires more attention to ensure that older people are ageing well. As usual, discussions turned to funding. While the benefits of allied health services in aged care are clear, the ability to access these professionals more regularly seemed to be restricted. Support for allied health is required to ensure that older people can maintain their independence, quality of life, and age well into the latter years of life.
We would like to thank Hilary O’Connell, Rik Dawson, and Stacey George for joining us at the ARIIA 2024 conference and sharing their expertise with us.
*The views and opinions expressed in Knowledge Blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ARIIA, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.