- Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Research Interests: Health Promotion, Public Opinion, Political Science, Australia, Aging, and 15 moreQualitative Research, Medicine, Human Sexuality, Humans, Aged Care, Female, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Age Factors, Homes for the Aged, cultural characteristics, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Interviews as topic, and Medical and Health Sciences
Background Home care service providers are increasingly supporting clients living with dementia. Targeted and comprehensive dementia-specific training for home care staff is necessary to meet this need. This study evaluates a training... more
Background Home care service providers are increasingly supporting clients living with dementia. Targeted and comprehensive dementia-specific training for home care staff is necessary to meet this need. This study evaluates a training programme delivered to care staff (paid personal carers) of clients living with dementia at home. Methods This study is a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial (SW-CRT). Home care workers (HCWs) from seven home care service providers are grouped into 18 geographical clusters. Clusters are randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group receives 7 h of a dementia education and upskilling programme (Promoting Independence Through quality dementia Care at Home [PITCH]) after baseline measures. The control group receives PITCH training 6 months after baseline measures. This approach will ensure that all participants are offered the program. Home care clients living with dementia are also invited to particip...
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Research Interests: Psychology and Interview
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Undertaking co-design with the end users of services has rapidly evolved as the best-practice approach to program design, development and implementation. Increased interest in using participatory co-design in dementia care has drawn... more
Undertaking co-design with the end users of services has rapidly evolved as the best-practice approach to program design, development and implementation. Increased interest in using participatory co-design in dementia care has drawn attention to the need for evidence-informed methods for facilitating the meaningful involvement of people with dementia and their family carers in co-design activities. The aim of this paper is to describe the co-design framework used in the co-design of a dementia specialist training program for home care workers. The Promoting Independence Through quality dementia Care at Home program is a successful example of co-design methodology used across multiple project stages and with various stakeholder groups, including people living with dementia, family carers, home care workers, managers and researchers. Co-design methods were tailored to each stage, purpose, and stakeholder group, and to facilitate the involvement of people living with dementia. Findings...
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Background Our objective was to explore what people receiving and providing care consider to be ‘good’ in-home care for people living with dementia. Methods We conducted 36 in-depth interviews and two focus groups with key stakeholders in... more
Background Our objective was to explore what people receiving and providing care consider to be ‘good’ in-home care for people living with dementia. Methods We conducted 36 in-depth interviews and two focus groups with key stakeholders in Australia in the first quarter of 2018. Participants included those receiving care (4 people living with dementia, 15 family carers) or providing care (9 case managers, 5 service managers, 10 home care workers). Qualitative thematic analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach. Results Consensus was reached across all groups on five themes considered as important for good in-home dementia care: 1) Home care workers’ understanding of dementia and its impact; 2) Home care workers’ demonstrating person-centred care and empathy in their care relationship with their client; 3) Good relationships and communication between care worker, person with dementia and family carers; 4) Home care workers’ knowing positive practical strategies for ch...
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This article examines relationships between experiences of ageism and four specific mental health outcomes among older Australian adults, including whether these relationships vary depending on age, gender, and sexual orientation. A... more
This article examines relationships between experiences of ageism and four specific mental health outcomes among older Australian adults, including whether these relationships vary depending on age, gender, and sexual orientation. A survey was conducted nationwide involving 2137 participants aged 60 years and older. Mental health variables included depressive symptoms, anxious symptoms, general stress, and positive mental health or flourishing. Recent experiences of ageism were found to be strongly related to poorer mental health on all four mental health variables. However, experiences of ageism appeared to have a greater effect on the mental health of those who were younger in age (specifically depression), of men more so than women (specifically depression), and of those who identified as heterosexual as opposed to other sexual orientations (specifically general stress). These findings suggest that experiences of ageism may be an important factor in the health and well-being of o...
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That many older individuals continue to engage in various forms of sexual expression well into later life is now well established in the literature. To date, however, only a small body of qualitative research has examined older men's... more
That many older individuals continue to engage in various forms of sexual expression well into later life is now well established in the literature. To date, however, only a small body of qualitative research has examined older men's experiences and understandings of sex in later life. Likewise, the ways in which older men's discussions on sex may be used as an avenue for "doing" masculinity remain underexplored. Older men are particularly interesting in this regard, as they inhabit an increasingly subordinated position in relation to hegemonic masculine ideals because of their age. To what extent might this limit or, alternatively, open up the possibilities for sexual expression and subjectivity in later life? Drawing on a subset of findings from Sex, Age, and Me: A National Study with Australian Women and Men Aged 60 and Older, data from qualitative interviews with 27 Australian men were explored in this article. The first Australian study of its kind, we argue t...
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Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are rising among older Australians. We conducted a large survey of older people's knowledge of STIs and safer sexual practices. A total of 2,137 Australians aged 60 years and older... more
Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are rising among older Australians. We conducted a large survey of older people's knowledge of STIs and safer sexual practices. A total of 2,137 Australians aged 60 years and older completed the survey, which included 15 questions assessing knowledge of STIs and safer sexual practices. We examined both levels of knowledge and factors associated with an overall knowledge score. In total, 1,652 respondents reported having sex in the past five years and answered all knowledge questions. This group had good general knowledge but poorer knowledge in areas such as the protection offered by condoms and potential transmission modes for specific STIs. Women had better knowledge than men. Men in their 60s, men with higher education levels, and men who thought they were at risk of STIs reported better knowledge than other men. Knowledge was also better among men and women who had been tested for STIs or reported 'other' sources of kno...
Research Interests: Aging, Risk Taking, Medicine, Applied Economics, Humans, and 14 moreFemale, Male, Sexual Behavior, Aged, Middle Aged, Public Administration and Policy, Public health systems and services research, Health surveys, Condoms, Cross Sectional Studies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Safe Sex, HIV infections, and Population surveillance
Structural ageing of populations has been accompanied by a move towards a greater understanding of the long-term health care and housing needs of older adults. Unfortunately, however, their status and value to society remains in question.... more
Structural ageing of populations has been accompanied by a move towards a greater understanding of the long-term health care and housing needs of older adults. Unfortunately, however, their status and value to society remains in question. In Western cultures, at least, old age is typically viewed in a negative light (Birren & Schaie, 2006, p. 389), and ageing is seen as a process of ‘inevitable decline and deterioration’ (Friedan, 1993, p. 9), or as a time of ‘decline, retreat, and withdrawal’ (Dychtwald, 2005, p. 17). Ageism refers to negative generalisations and perceptions about older adults and is a fact of life for many older people (Age Concern, 2006; Gething et al., 2003). As a group, older adults have become used to being typecast as frail, confused and a ‘burden’ on society (de Vaus et al., 2003, p. 19; Hoyer, 1997, p. 39) thereby leading to research that further problematises the lives of older people and focuses on ways of ‘dealing’ with the burden of a growing ageing population.
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Background: Rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are increasing among older adults in many countries. Little is known about the testing and treatment histories of these populations. Correlates of testing in the past 5 years... more
Background: Rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are increasing among older adults in many countries. Little is known about the testing and treatment histories of these populations. Correlates of testing in the past 5 years among older adults who may be at risk of a STI were examined. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 2137 Australians aged 60+ years that involved questions on STIs and STI testing was conducted in 2015. To help inform potential education campaigns, analyses focused on those who may have been at risk of a STI (n = 805, 38%). Results: Less than one in three reported a STI test in the past 5 years (n = 241, 30%) while 6% (n = 51) reported a STI diagnosis. Those diagnosed typically received treatment from a family doctor or general practitioner. Among men, lower testing rates were associated with older age, identifying as heterosexual, lower educational attainment, not using online dating and reporting one partner in the past 5 years. For women, lower rat...
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Attitudes to aging have been investigated in non-carer populations and found to have important relationships with physical and mental health. However, these have not been explored in an older carer sample, although it is becoming... more
Attitudes to aging have been investigated in non-carer populations and found to have important relationships with physical and mental health. However, these have not been explored in an older carer sample, although it is becoming increasingly important to clarify variables which are linked with positive carer outcomes. This is one of the first studies to report on older carers, their attitudes to aging, and the relationship with carer-related factors. A cross-sectional study of 202 carers with a mean age of 70.8 years was conducted in Victoria, Australia, using carer demographic data, carer factors such as depression (using the Geriatric Depression Scale), burden (using the Zarit Burden Inventory, ZBI), physical health, personality, and attitudes to aging (using the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, AAQ). Spearman rank correlation and hierarchical regression analyses were used. This study showed that carers had overall positive attitudes to aging inspite of their caring role. It als...
Research Interests: Personality, Depression, Aging, Medicine, Humans, and 14 moreFemale, Male, Caregivers, Victoria, Psychogeriatrics, Aged, Middle Aged, Cambridge University, Cross Sectional Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Personality Inventory, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
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This research explores the initiation and progression of new late-life romantic relationships among older Australians (60 years plus). Our research found that older adult romantic relationships were meaningful, important and sexually... more
This research explores the initiation and progression of new late-life romantic relationships among older Australians (60 years plus). Our research found that older adult romantic relationships were meaningful, important and sexually intimate. However, few led to cohabitation or marriage, with these older adults preferring to date or to maintain separate households (living-apart-together, LAT). In line with Giddens’ ideal of ‘pure’ relationships, our research indicates that older adults are looking for egalitarian relationships based on emotional and sexual equality, albeit not necessarily based on cohabitation or monogamy.
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Background The residents of Victoria (Australia’s second most populous state), were subject to a hard lockdown for several months as they experienced a second wave of COVID-19. Victorians could only leave their homes for essential... more
Background The residents of Victoria (Australia’s second most populous state), were subject to a hard lockdown for several months as they experienced a second wave of COVID-19. Victorians could only leave their homes for essential activities, were required to wear facemasks, remain within 5km of their homes and were subject to a nightly curfew. Elsewhere in Australia, COVID numbers remained low with no lockdown in place. We examined the impact of the lockdown on the sexual behaviour of Victorians compared with elsewhere in Australia. Methods Our online survey was open for 2.5 weeks during the lockdown (August 13th to 31st). Participants aged 18+ were recruited via social media and asked to report on their current sexual practices. Logistic regression was used to calculate the difference in the proportion of practices between Victorians and non-Victorians. Results 976 people completed the survey: 71% identified as female, 75% were aged 18–29 years, 61% resided in Victoria. Compared w...
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Abstract This preface to the special edition provides an introduction highlighting the notion of a 'greying world'and reflects on the unique juxtaposition of ageing and technology. It then introduces the special guest... more
Abstract This preface to the special edition provides an introduction highlighting the notion of a 'greying world'and reflects on the unique juxtaposition of ageing and technology. It then introduces the special guest editorial and provides a synopsis of each of the four featured ...
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The current paper is based on a study of 45 Australian older adults (aged 60 – 92 years) and their offline and online romantic relationships. It discusses the four different interview methods that were used to collect the data: (i)... more
The current paper is based on a study of 45 Australian older adults (aged 60 – 92 years) and their offline and online romantic relationships. It discusses the four different interview methods that were used to collect the data: (i) face-to-face, (ii) telephone, (iii) instant messaging and (iv) email. It is argued that with increasing numbers of older adults making use of the Internet, online interviewing provides researchers in ageing a further means of access to segments of this population. Online interviewing has many benefits, not least of which are that it is both cost effective and efficient. Furthermore, if the nature of the research topic is of a potentially sensitive nature, as in the project reported here (love, sex and intimacy), the use of online interviewing can help alleviate potentially embarrassing and confrontational moments which can occur for both researcher and participants with more traditional face-to-face and telephone interviewing methods. Introduction Late-li...
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Using online dating sites to find romantic partners has rapidly become the norm and there are many studies illustrating this trend. Qualitative research regarding older adults in this context is scarce, however, as is research regarding... more
Using online dating sites to find romantic partners has rapidly become the norm and there are many studies illustrating this trend. Qualitative research regarding older adults in this context is scarce, however, as is research regarding older adult romantic relationships that begin face to face (F2F). This paper reports the findings of 45 semi-structured interviews with two groups of older adults (60 years plus): those who were currently in or recently involved in a romantic relationship that began (1) online or (2) F2F. The findings suggest that older adult online relationships develop more quickly than those that begin F2F and that they are of shorter duration and are less likely to become ongoing. In terms of sexual intimacy, however, all relationships (in both groups) became sexual and most did so in a short time. It is argued that the mode of relationship initiation may have an impact on relationship development and longevity but that this may not necessarily be a negative outc...
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This editorial discusses the journal’s shift from AJETS to iJETS and reflects on the history of the journal over the past seven years and twelve issues. It charts the reasons for the decision to remain free and online, as well as the... more
This editorial discusses the journal’s shift from AJETS to iJETS and reflects on the history of the journal over the past seven years and twelve issues. It charts the reasons for the decision to remain free and online, as well as the resolve to maintain its interdisciplinary nature. The push to internationalisation is also discussed, as well as a new focus for the future – that of special themed editions.
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Australia is experiencing a “structural ageing” of its population; by 2044 approximately 25% of adults will be aged 65 years and over, leading to a corresponding increase in need for aged health and community care provisions. Older adults... more
Australia is experiencing a “structural ageing” of its population; by 2044 approximately 25% of adults will be aged 65 years and over, leading to a corresponding increase in need for aged health and community care provisions. Older adults have been shown to be more vulnerable to social isolation than the rest of the populace. Socially isolated older adults have more ill health and less well being than those who are socially connected. Social connection appears to provide a protective effect against ill health and mortality in the aged. It is likely that those who are socially connected will, therefore, have less need to access health and community care services than those who are socially isolated. Based on a qualitative study of older adults within a local Melbourne municipality, I argue that increasing social connectedness amongst the elderly could have important beneficial impacts, not only on health, but also on government budgetary requirements and service allocations and, at a...
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Abstract Purpose Australia introduced ‘lockdown’ measures to control COVID-19 on 22 March 2020 which continued for a period of two months. We aimed to investigate the impact this had on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Materials and... more
Abstract Purpose Australia introduced ‘lockdown’ measures to control COVID-19 on 22 March 2020 which continued for a period of two months. We aimed to investigate the impact this had on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Materials and Methods Australians aged 18+ were eligible to participate in an online survey from 23 April to 11 May 2020. We report on the experiences of 518 female participants aged <50 years. Pregnancy intentions and contraceptive use were analysed using descriptive statistics. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to investigate difficulty accessing SRH products and services. Qualitative data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Results Most participants were aged 18–24 years, and indicated they were trying to avoid pregnancy. The oral contraceptive pill was the most common single method used however nearly 20% reported they were not using contraception. Women who were employed had less trouble accessing contraception during lockdown. Participants reported delaying childbearing or deciding to remain childfree due to COVID-19. Conclusion COVID-19 lockdown impacted the SRH of Australian women. Findings highlight the importance of continued access to SRH services and products during global emergencies.
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ABSTRACTIntroductionAustralia recorded its first case of COVID-19 in late January 2020. On 22nd March 2020, amid increasing daily case numbers, the Australian Government implemented lockdown restrictions to help ‘flatten the curve’. Our... more
ABSTRACTIntroductionAustralia recorded its first case of COVID-19 in late January 2020. On 22nd March 2020, amid increasing daily case numbers, the Australian Government implemented lockdown restrictions to help ‘flatten the curve’. Our study aimed to understand the impact of lockdown restrictions on sexual and reproductive health. Here we focus on sexual practices.MethodsAn online survey was open from the 23rd April 2020 to the 11th May 2020. Participants were recruited online via social media and other networks and were asked to report on their sexual practices in 2019 and during lockdown. Logistic regression was used to calculate the difference (including 95% confidence intervals) in the proportion of sex practices between time periods.ResultsOf the 1187 who commenced the survey, 965 (81.3%) completed it. Overall 70% were female and 66.3% were aged 18 to 29 years. Most (53.5%) reported less sex during lockdown than in 2019. Compared with 2019, participants were more likely to rep...