Adelaide, July 10: Flinders University in Australia is leading a research project aimed at improving the quality of life and support for informal carers of people living with dementia.
The project has received over $1.5 million in funding from the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council.
The focus of the research is on carers from culturally diverse backgrounds who often face barriers due to cultural or linguistic differences, leading to high levels of stress and social isolation.
The project will be led by Professor Lily Xiao, an internationally recognized dementia caregiving researcher from Flinders College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The goal is to trial a culturally tailored “iSupport model” that takes into account the carers’ specific culture, and preferred language, and improves their access to the Australian health system. Many carers from diverse backgrounds currently lack accessible resources and information in their preferred language to adequately care for their family members with dementia.
Informal carers from culturally and linguistically diverse groups face numerous challenges, including unmet care needs, uncontrolled chronic conditions, complications, low quality of life, avoidable hospital admissions, and high costs to the healthcare system.
The iSupport program, developed and endorsed by the World Health Organization, will be implemented into routine dementia care services in multiple languages, including English and seven non-English languages.
The project aims to bring a paradigm shift to the current system, ultimately improving the health and quality of life for caregivers and their families.
The research project involves collaboration with other researchers from Flinders University and Western Sydney University, as well as partnerships with organizations such as the Australian Nursing Home Foundation, Bolton Clarke, Chinese Australian Services Society, Community Access and Services, Greek Orthodox Community, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, and the Society of Saint Hilarion.
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