Addressing loneliness in aged care clients

Federation University Australia and Silverchain are pioneering a new approach to tackling loneliness in aged care through an industry co-funded PhD scholarship.

The PhD candidate will work closely with expert researchers and practitioners, co-supervised by Federation University and Silverchain. Embedded within Silverchain, the research will deliver practical, implementable solutions that can improve the quality of life for older Australians receiving care at home.

A study published in Plos One (2021) titled ‘Prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in high-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis,' estimated that the prevalence of loneliness among older people in countries like Australia is 28%. 

Silverchain’s Director of Research Discovery, Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison, said loneliness is considered an epidemic and a major public health risk.

“While this analysis from Plos One focuses on older adults in general, risk factors for loneliness – such as partner loss, a limited social network or social activity, poor perceived health and depressed mood – are often heightened among people accessing in home aged care. This emphasises the need for targeted research and intervention for this vulnerable group,” Adj Prof Davison said. 

“This PhD, made possible by Silverchain Foundation, represents an exciting opportunity to combine academic excellence with practical innovation, and make a real difference in the lives of older Australians.”

Federation University’s Distinguished Professor, Colette Browning, said while there is increasing awareness of the problem of loneliness in general, the specific needs of the in home aged care population have received little attention from policy makers to date. 

“It is therefore crucial to explore innovative strategies to mitigate loneliness and enhance mental health. This partnership allows us to develop evidence-based interventions that can be widely implemented across the aged care system,” Professor Browning said.

The project will be led by Distinguished Professor Browning, a global leader in psychology and health research, and Adjunct Professor Davison, a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in mental health research and innovation in aged care. 

A series of studies will be conducted to explore loneliness among in home aged care clients, aiming to develop scalable solutions to enhance their mental health and wellbeing. 

The scholarship will run for three and a half years, with a $35,000 annual allowance and $10,000 top up. Further project and conference support is also offered. The candidate will be based at Federation University’s Mt Helen and/or Berwick campuses in Victoria and embedded in Silverchain’s Research and Innovation team. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements to undertake a PhD. For more information, click here.