Discover

At Silverchain we partner with academic and clinical experts to conduct rigorous research to generate new knowledge on the needs of our clients and how we can improve their health and care experience.

Current research projects in the Discover workstream include:

Understanding the mental health and wellbeing of the in home aged care population

We are dedicated to supporting the mental health of older Australians receiving aged care services in the home. As more people choose to age in place, our research and innovation team are conducting several studies to better understand their needs and advocate for greater support. This will help us improve the care experience and ensure our clients can live independently at home. Key projects include:

• The prevalence of depression and anxiety among in home aged care clients.
• The mental health care preferences of home care clients with depression or anxiety. 
• The extent and impact of complex mental health issues in home care.  

EMBED: A new model of care to address symptoms of depression in the in home aged care setting

Informed by our foundational research around the need for alternative approaches to address the high rate of depression in the in home aged care population, Silverchain has developed an innovative model of care, in collaboration with multiple university partners. Enhanced Management of home Based Elders with Depression (EMBED) is a comprehensive, digitally enabled model of care, that aims to increase the recognition of older people with symptoms of depression and facilitate their access to effective, tailored interventions. Key projects for EMBED include:

• The feasibility and acceptability of EMBED: A pilot study.
• Development and pilot of a digital version of the EMBED treatment program. 
• Clinical trial of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of EMBED.
• Implementing foundational mental health training for staff.

Addressing loneliness and social isolation in the home care population  

As more older Australians access aged care services to remain at home, as many as 28% are at a high risk of social isolation and loneliness. At Silverchain we are pioneering a new approach to address loneliness in aged care to support older people’s ongoing social engagement, as important components of their wellbeing. Key projects include:

• A co-funded PhD scholarship with Federation University Australia to address loneliness in home care.
• A study to explore how older adults can maintain social connections while receiving aged care services. 
• Silverchain Home Lunch Club.  

Implementing technology into home care services 

We're researching how to best use technology to improve in home aged care. We're studying how older adults use technology and finding ways to help them benefit from the latest innovations. Key projects include:

• A technology use client survey.
• Development of a technology implementation framework for home care providers.