Thursday Three - 22 02 2024

  • AAG 500 blog: The importance of eye care

  • Mental health webinar series: Episode 1

  • Calling RNs for PhD study

AAG 500 blog: The importance of eye care

In the February AAG 500 blog, AAG member Dr Marianne Coleman reminds us of the importance of looking after our eyes as we age.

A Clinical Vision Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne / National Vision Research Institute, Marianne shares some sobering facts and figures on age-related changes to our eye health and vision (90% of sight loss experienced by older adults may be preventable!).
 
Noting their particular challenges with eyecare, Marianne includes advice on supporting routine eye tests for people with dementia and provides links to further information.

Mental health webinar series: Episode 1

                                                                                       
AAG is pleased to support the 2024 National Mental Health Webinar Series, convened by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, Professor at the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care at La Trobe University.

This series of five webinars will address a range of topics relating to access to mental health services for older people, wellness and social inclusion, mental health presentations and crisis management.

In these 'short and sharp' sessions, a keynote speaker will present a case study before facilitating an interactive panel discussion.

Episode 1 of the series:

  • Takes place on Wednesday 6 March, from 1-2 pm

  • Addresses the question of Accessing Mental Health Services for Older People: Who should I call for help?

  • Features a keynote presentation by Dr Terry Chong, Psychiatrist and Clinician Researcher, Department of Psychiatry at University of Melbourne

  • Includes a panel discussion with Dr Francine Moss, Psychiatrist, Director of Clinical Services, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service; RN Tanya Cottrell, Mental Health Nurse, Manager, Healthy Ageing Service, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service; and Ms Grace Billing, Occupational Therapist and Team Leader, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

For details and to register, go to the online event page.

Calling RNs for PhD study



For her PhD study, AAG member Deb Magee is calling on current or former registered nurses (RNs) in aged care to share their reflections and understandings on optimising organisational culture and cultures of care in rural and regional Australia.

Based at Charles Sturt University - a regional university - Deb's PhD study seeks to better understand the benefits and challenges of RNs working in community or residential aged care, in a rural or regional setting.

Deb is particularly interested in learning how organisational culture can influence the experience of staff and how this may promote teamwork and a person-centred approach, thus optimising cultures of care.

We ask members and friends of AAG to please share this with your networks. More information is available online.

And just a reminder about AAG's Regional, Rural and Remote Special Interest Group (RRRSIG), which provides a platform for the discussion, development and promotion of regional, rural and remote ageing research and practice in Australasia.