National Ageing Research Institute

🌷 In the spring 2024 edition of NARI's 'Ageing Well' newsletter, new Director Professor Tracy Comans reflects on a busy six months since she commenced in her new role - find out more about Tracy, and her research interests, in our spotlight feature. Also in this edition, read all about NARI in action and out on the road, explore our events and initiatives, see where we have featured in the media, and discover how you can collaborate with us and be involved in our research: https://lnkd.in/gmnVhZTS @ENJOYSeniorsExerciseParks Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) Moving Pictures

Sign up for the Heide Museum of Modern Art Creative Age Programs today! These programs support people living with early stage dementia, and their carers, and are designed specifically to explore creativity through the nonverbal avenue of ar, and to promote health and wellbeing. Led by qualified art therapist Tanis Douglas, the programs run in two streams on alternate weeks. The first is a series of life-enhancing sessions for adults living with dementia and their carers, and the second is a nurturing series open to all carers of adults living with dementia. Program streams run in Melbourne on Thursdays from 1.30pm – 3pm on alternate weeks. Join anytime. Program priced per session. Further information and pricing can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gTSszNzF

Yesterday was 'National Grandparents Day' in Australia, a special day which celebrates the important role that grandparents and older people play in our lives and the many contributions they make to families, communities, and society. One of our researchers, Lysha, generously shared the following story of her personal connection to National Grandparents Day: "Just sending through a little collage of photos of my maternal grandma and us cousins, whom she had a big role in raising (no small feat - we were a cheeky bunch!) It’s been 2.5 years since she passed, and we continue to miss and celebrate her. 😊" On behalf of Lysha and everyone at NARI, we would like to say "thank you" to #Grandparents and #OlderPeople for their care and support, and for sharing their knowledge, experience, and traditions with younger generation.

📣 Calling all Australian-based interpreters! MINDSET is providing FREE specialist online dementia training for interpreters to improve cognitive assessment for dementia in people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Interested in taking part? Please click the link below to enrol: https://lnkd.in/gP3QC48N

🌍 HEALTH AND BEYOND: FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION 🌏 October 20th marked World EBHC Day, a global initiative that aims to raise awareness of the need for better evidence to inform healthcare policy, practice and decision-making in order to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. It also provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the dedication, hard work and impact of researchers, academics, students, policy makers, advocates, clinicians, consumers and other agents of change who are driving improvements in the quality and outcomes of healthcare across the world. Producing, facilitating, disseminating and translating evidence to impact the health, wellbeing and quality of life for older people, and those who care for them, is everything we do at NARI - during our annual staff planning day last week, our talented team of directors, researchers, clinicians and operational support staff worked together with our ambassadors, board president and members of our community advisory panel on a new strategic plan for 2025 - 2029 that will enable us to clearly, collectively and collaboratively focus our efforts in order to successfully achieve our vision and mission. Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) Moving Pictures #WorldEBHCDay #EvidenceBasedHealthCare #TranslationalResearch #BringingResearchToLife #NARI #StrategicPlanning #ThankYouForYourWork

🕛 Last minute reminder to register for our FREE online webinar on 'Enhancing Wellbeing in Later Life' that will be presented by Riyana Miranti TODAY from 12 - 1pm AEDT: https://lnkd.in/gZYsudSj

This year’s theme for #WorldOsteoporosisDay is “Step Up for Bone Health”. Did you know that regular exercise is an evidence-based treatment used to both prevent and treat osteoporosis, build a stronger skeleton and maintain bone strength throughout life? The best types of exercise for bone health are: weight-bearing exercises; resistance training; and balance training. We have many examples of these exercises at our ENJOY Seniors Exercise Parks: step ups, sit to stand, stairs… For those who are unable to access one of our parks, The 'Safe Exercise at Home' website contains Australian Physiotherapy Association approved information on physical activity and exercise for older people, and people with mobility limitations, in their home environment. International Osteoporosis Foundation Healthy Bones Australia #Osteoporosis #HealthyBones #ENJOY_IMPACT #ENJOYhealth #PhysicalActivity #Exercise #OlderPeople #AgeFriendly

Data from the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model indicates that, in 2022-23, over 20,000 aged care residents (8%) in Australia needed support for a catheter of some type – most likely a long-term indwelling urinary catheter (IDC). Although IDCs are potentially beneficial, many people experience complications such as infection. NARI is conducting a three-year research study, titled 'IDC-IMPROVE', that aims to strengthen the capacity of Australia’s aged care workforce to care for people with IDCs who live in residential aged care homes. The project is a nurse-led interdisciplinary research collaboration funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Medical Research Future Fund under the 2022 Clinician Researchers Initiative. After consulting with key stakeholders and reviewing the current evidence, a number of resources have been designed and validated to support residential aged care homes in improving IDC care. NARI has also partnered with the Continence Foundation of Australia to deliver site-based catheterisation skills workshops where residential aged care nurses can develop and practice catheterisation skills in a safe environment. To find out more about IDC-IMPROVE, including how you can be involved, visit: https://lnkd.in/dkqJ8Wkp .

Our free 'Seminars in Ageing' program continues on Tuesday 22nd October 2024 from 12 - 1pm AEDT - this month's online webinar will feature Professor Riyana Miranti (Mira) from the University of Canberra who is a socio-economist, development economist and a visiting academic at NARI. Her presentation will explore key topics related to the life experiences of mature-aged and older Australians as they navigate pathways to improved wellbeing. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gZYsudSj

Following on from our 'Conversations on Ageing' event held online earlier this year, we have co-written an article with Professor Sandra Thom-Jones and Professor Mark Bellgrove titled "Autism, ADHD and Ageing: Welcome to the Unknown" that is featured in the current issue of Research Australia's INSPIRE magazine - this edition delves into the remarkable work being done in health and medical research and innovation, focusing on the priorities, needs and systems challenges of improving health outcomes with and for people with disabilities across all ages. Thanks to Nadia Levin and Amanda Stonestreet for the opportunity to bring light to this critically important issue for Australia's ageing population. #Autism #ADHD #OlderPeople #Ageing #AgeingPopulation #HealthAndMedicalResearch #ResearchAustralia