MHICare: Mental Health Benchmarking Industry Tool for Residential Aged Care
This project aims to improve the care and management of resident’s mental health in Residential Aged Care. MHICare will achieve this by developing a unique tool to help aged care homes identify how well they are performing at meeting the needs of resident’s mental health. This will help aged care homes identify their own strengths and weaknesses for future improvement.
The tool will be developed using an evidence based approach incorporating feedback from aged care residents, staff and family members, as well as experts in the field of geriatric mental health.
MHICare is a collaborative research study being conducted by the Dementia and Neuro Mental Health Unit, and will include aged care homes and consumers in development. Consumer involvement is key to developing a tool that meets the needs of our community
Why is this so important?
- Mental health services are not routinely available in aged care, signifying a substantial unmet need.
- The majority of residents (85%) in Australian aged care homes report at least one diagnosed mental health or behavioural disorder
- Mental health care practices in aged care can be improved!
- To develop an aged care industry appropriate tool to measure mental health care practices and outcomes for Residential Aged care.
- To provide consumers opportunity to be actively involved in tool design, including aged care homes and staff, as well as residents and family members.
- To form strong collaborative bonds with residential aged care, to provide better translational outcomes of research into practice.
- Consumer groups will be involved in designing study materials.
- Consumer focus groups with aged care residents, staff and family members will be conducted.
- Consumer questionnaires will be distributed to aged care residents, family members and staff.
- Consumers will be given the opportunity to review the tool and provide feedback.
An expert panel in geriatric mental health and aged care will be recruited from across Australia and internationally to help develop the tool.
Our panel will include aged care staff such as registered nurses, occupational therapists, geriatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, other health professionals and aged care researchers.
If you would like to complete a questionnaire or participate in a focus group telling us of your experience and suggestions please ask the staff at your aged care home or contact us using the contact details provided.
Contact
If you would like to participate or would like to receive more information, please contact:
Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka or Ms Rachel Brimelow
Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Unit
E: MHICare@uq.edu.au
P: +61 7 3346 5577