UOW’s Professor Andrew Bonney receives IRT Foundation research grant

By Desirée Savage

Wollongong researchers have been given $79,981 by IRT Foundation to help simplify the decision making process on health care for older Australians.

We’re doing better at keeping people alive for longer but we’re not doing so well keeping people free of disability, frailty or threats to independence. – Professor Andrew Bonney

Professor Andrew Bonney and his team from the Illawarra and Southern Practice Research Network were one of two organisations to receive funding from the aged care advocates in 2016.

“What we’re investigating is currently the way older people have a say in their medical management, particularly older people who have multiple health problems and see multiple health providers,” said Professor Bonney.

“The concern is that once they’ve seen the GP, the podiatrist, the dietitian and the eye specialist they may not really have had the opportunity to have a say how they want their health managed.”

He said one of the biggest challenges facing Australia’s health care system today was being able to cope with people living longer.

“We’re doing better at keeping people alive for longer but we’re not doing so well keeping people free of disability, frailty or threats to independence. What we really need to be able to do … is keep people’s vitality, keep them active and independent.”

A research team from the University of Western Sydney was also given $77,895 to look at ways of making it easier for older people to understand complementary medicines and make more informed choices.

They will research products like the latest vitamins, minerals and pro-biotics on the market and work out how they help older people and what consumers need to be aware of.

IRT Foundation Manager Toby Dawson, IRT Group Chief Executive Nieves Murray, Professor Caroline Smith, Professor Andrew Bonney and IRT Foundation Committee Chair Dr Lee Moerman. Picture: Supplied

Foundation manager Toby Dawson said since 2009 they had given $1.9 million to a range of projects to create opportunities for older people to age positively and maintain their independence.

The outcomes of the research will initially be used to inform practice and provide information, with possibility to push policy reform in the future.