When Gillian Edwards arrived at Calvary Haydon Aged Care in Canberra last year following a debilitating stroke, the 89-year-old could not sit straight or move the right side of her body. Source: Catholic Voice.
Today, she moves with renewed confidence thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between Calvary Haydon and the University of Canberra (UC).
“Now, I can speak, I can sit upright, I can move – though it’s still a bit shaky – and I’ve even had cataract surgery,” Ms Edwards said.
“A lot has changed. I think I would’ve been very depressed without this program. You don’t realise how big those things are until you can’t do them anymore.”
Ms Edwards is one of many residents who have seen profound improvements as part of the Enhanced Allied Health for Older People project, a year-long trial led by UC’s Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT).
The program embedded six allied health professionals – covering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietetics, optometry, and pharmacy – in the Bruce facility. They worked alongside care staff, residents, and families to provide daily, tailored support aimed at improving quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Ms Edwards’ daughter, Celia Vuckovic, described the allied health team’s support as” a dream come true.”
“Mum was pretty severely disabled when she moved in, and to know that there were going to be people helping her out every single day with her rehab was just such a relief,” she said.
“It’s great on so many levels. The physical improvements have been fantastic, but the mental boost as well – being part of something bigger than us; the research that is going to ultimately improve the way that aged care is delivered in Australia.”
According to Professor Stephen Isbel, Deputy Director of CARAT and project lead, this was the first time such an integrated allied health model had been trialled in an Australian aged care facility.
“I think this provides a blueprint for other residential aged care homes to do the same thing,” Professor Isbel said.
The full results of the program will be available later this year. In the meantime, a proposal has been submitted to expand the model across four more aged care homes in Canberra and regional NSW.
FULL STORY
Aged care breakthrough restores hope and health (By Veronika Cox, Catholic Voice)
