Transforming Research in Ageing (TRiA)

The TRiA Group studies the social, psychological and biological factors that support ageing well and aims to improve health services, nursing practice and care with translation and improved health for older people as primary outcomes.

The TRiA Group is committed to expanding awareness of research in ageing and Increasing the impact of research in ageing through collaboration. We are a mix of early, mid and senior interdisciplinary researchers from the University of Tasmania researching areas of dementia palliative care and physical activity.

Our research comprises four pillars:

Pillar 1: Conduct rigorous translational research, that improves the health and quality of life for older people.

Pillar 2: Contribute to health services development through enabling evidence-informed practice and integrated care delivery for older people across care settings.

Pillar 3: Build capacity in the health and aged care workforce to deliver best-practice in the care of older people.

Pillar 4: Conduct co-designed research with stakeholders to create and implement solutions for healthcare delivery issues concerning older people.

Research approach and focussed area of interest

  • Evaluation of health promotion programs for community organisations and health service innovation research
  • Implementation and translation research including the establishment of a new model of care - Namaste Care - for people living with advanced dementia
  • Qualitative research which focuses on the experiences of marginalised populations in physical activity and health contexts
  • Participatory and qualitative research methods, with an interest and focus on a broad range of community-based health initiatives
  • Residential aged care workforce and the development of an instrument to evaluate the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing assistants providing a palliative approach
  • Action research in dementia, palliative care and developing quality undergraduate nursing experiences in aged care settings and postgraduate settings.
  • Designing, implementing and managing clinical trials
  • Prevention and management of chronic disease
  • Healthcare and support services
  • Patient and family engagement
  • Injury, burns and frail population

Projects

Outcomes

1. Train the Trainer Workshop Manual (2021) The Trajectory of Dementia Illnesses and the Namaste Care Program for People Living with Advanced Dementia in Residential Aged Care Facilities

2. Karacsony, S., Eccleston, C. and Abela, M., 2022. Evaluating dementia knowledge, attitudes, perceived skills and competence following dementia education and training in the Namaste Care program. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 27(7), p.38.

Group Leader(s)

Associate Professor Pieter Van Dam

Contact

research.nursing@utas.edu.au

Group members