A COMMUNITY wellbeing clinic for older people on the Mid North Coast is a solution for improved independence, psychological health, and social wellbeing, Charles Sturt University researchers have found.
Australians 65 and over make up approximately 17 per cent of the population, with a greater proportion living in regional areas.
Dr Patricia Mackey, research team leader and a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University, believes that the higher volume of over-60s living in country NSW is resulting in greater demand for wellbeing clinical services.
The two-year-long research program involved 79 older people, industry representatives and carers.
The results showed that keeping healthy does not mean simply visiting a doctor: rather, it’s having somewhere to learn, connect, feel safe and supported, as well as making contributions to the community.
The research concluded that wellbeing includes both mental and physical health, psychological and emotional health – even spiritual connection.
The ‘Wellbeing Connect 4 Seniors Interprofessional Wellbeing Clinic’ research project examined which university-based health and wellbeing clinic models of care best meet the needs of regional older adults.
The proposed community wellbeing clinic is especially important given the prevalence of loneliness, social isolation and particularly issues like digital scams, which all affect older Australians.
“The added benefit is that it would also help build the future allied health workforce through workplace learning and field education placements for students from health disciplines such as social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, paramedicine and nursing,” Dr Mackey said.
Dr Mackey said that the team will soon commence the Wellbeing Connect 4 Seniors project through a staged implementation, and is currently exploring opportunities for funding.
“Social work students will initially provide programs such as digital life storytelling, wellbeing and reminiscence groups, organising public safety and legal workshops, and a carer support group,” she said.
By Shalise LEESFIELD
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
