Phillipson, Lyn J.

Top Publications

Year	Title
2018	More than talking: A scoping review of innovative approaches to qualitative research involving people with dementia. Published in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
2018	Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project Published in Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published in Australian Journal of Social Issues
2017	The development and testing of the dementia friendly communities environment assessment tool (DFC EAT) Published in International Psychogeriatrics
2016	Reflections and recommendations for conducting in-depth interviews with people With dementia Published in Qualitative Health Research
2016	Applying knowledge translation concepts and strategies in dementia care education for health professionals: recommendations from a narrative literature review Published in Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions
2015	Dementia attitudes and help-seeking intentions: an investigation of responses to two scenarios of an experience of the early signs of dementia Published in Aging and Mental Health
2014	Correlates of dementia attitudes in a sample of middle-aged Australian adults Published in Australasian Journal on Ageing
2014	A review of the factors associated with the non-use of respite services by cares of people with dementia. implications for policy and practice. Published in Health and Social Care in the Community
2013	Why carers of people with dementia do not utilise out-of-home respite services Published in Health and Social Care in the Community
2012	Use of day centers for respite by help-seeking caregivers of individuals with dementia Published in Journal of Gerontological Nursing
2011	"Between the devil and the deep blue sea": the beliefs of caregivers of people with dementia regarding the use of in-home respite services Published in Home Health Care Services Quarterly
2011	Residential respite care: The caregiver's last resort Published in Journal of Gerontological Social Work
2017	Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review

Research Areas

1117 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

Research Overview

Lyn is an award-winning public health academic with an interest in social health and the personal, social, environmental and service factors which support it. She has expertise in working with people with dementia and their carers and the use of participatory and visual research methods. Lyn also has expertise in the use of social marketing as an action framework to promote health in the areas of: dementia friendly communities, dementia risk reduction, dementia help-seeking and service utilisation and cancer help-seeking in CALD communities.

In 2018, Lyn was appointed as an WHO-IFA Age Friendly Mentor which supports her contribution to the development of global capacity to create Age and Dementia Friendly Environments. She also plays a leadership role at the University of Wollongong, engaging researchers from all disciplines in the global challenges associated with dementia through the Dementia Enabling University Strategy.

Examples of her current research include:
- Exploring the impact of Consumer Directed Care on people with dementia who are recipients of Home Care Packages (NHMRC-ARC Fellowship)
- Development of ‘Dementia Friendly Communities and Organisations’ in the Kiama Local Government area (Global Challenges, UOW).
- Promoting Intergenerational Playgroups in Residential Aged Settings (Playgroups NSW, Liveable Communities Grant)
- Safe and Just Futures for People living with Dementia in Residential Aged Care (Dementia Research Foundation)
- Rethink Respite - a social marketing approach to promote respite service use in carers of people with dementia in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven (Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Research Foundation)
- Improving older persons' involvement in decisions concerning their health care (IRT Foundation)

Geographic Focus

Australia Country
Illawarra Shoalhaven region Geographic Region

Available as Research Supervisor

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2018	Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project Published In Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice Volume Online First Pages 1 - 16 ISSN 1471-3012 Altmetric
2018	More than talking: A scoping review of innovative approaches to qualitative research involving people with dementia. Published In International Journal of Qualitative Methods Volume 17 Pages 1 - 13 ISSN 1609-4069 Altmetric
2018	Re-design of Aged Care Environments is Key to Improved Care Quality and Cost Effective Reform of Aged and Health System Care Published In Applied Health Economics and Health Policy Volume Online First Pages 1 - 4 ISSN 1175-5652 Altmetric
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published In Australian Journal of Social Issues Volume 53 Pages 107 - 122 ISSN 0157-6321 Altmetric
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published In Australian Journal of Social Issues Volume 53 Pages 107 - 122 ISSN 0157-6321 Altmetric
2018	What is the impact of dementia on occupational competence, occupational participation and occupational identity for people who experience onset of symptoms while in paid employment? A scoping review Published In Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Volume Online First Pages 1 - 15 ISSN 0045-0766 Altmetric
2017	A feasibility study of team-based primary care for chronic disease management training in rural Australia Published In Australian Journal of Rural Health Volume 25 Pages 66 - 67 ISSN 1038-5282 Altmetric
2017	Are Big Food’s corporate social responsibility strategies valuable to communities? A qualitative study with parents and children Published In Public Health Nutrition Volume 20 Pages 3372 - 3380 ISSN 1368-9800 Altmetric
2017	Cancer beliefs in ethnic minority populations: a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies Published In European Journal of Cancer Care Volume 26 Pages e12556-1 - e12556-13 ISSN 0961-5423 Altmetric
2017	Employee perspectives: Exploring the journey from paid work to retirement due onset of a dementia Published In Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Volume 64 Page p. 52 ISSN 0045-0766 Altmetric
2017	The development and testing of the dementia friendly communities environment assessment tool (DFC EAT) Published In International Psychogeriatrics Volume 29 Pages 303 - 311 ISSN 1041-6102 Altmetric
2016	Applying knowledge translation concepts and strategies in dementia care education for health professionals: recommendations from a narrative literature review Published In Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions Volume 36 Pages 74 - 81 ISSN 0894-1912 Altmetric
2016	Empowering patients in the hospital as a new approach to reducing the burden of health care-associated infections: the attitudes of hospital health care workers Published In American Journal of Infection Control Volume 44 Pages 263 - 268 ISSN 0196-6553 Altmetric
2016	Reflections and recommendations for conducting in-depth interviews with people With dementia Published In Qualitative Health Research Volume 26 Pages 1774 - 1786 ISSN 1049-7323 Altmetric
2015	A review of current practices to increase Chlamydia screening in the community - a consumer-centred social marketing perspective Published In Health Expectations Volume 19 Pages 5 - 25 ISSN 1369-6513 Altmetric
2015	Ask, speak up, and be proactive: empowering patient infection control to prevent health care-acquired infections Published In American Journal of Infection Control Volume 43 Pages 447 - 453 ISSN 0196-6553 Altmetric
2015	Dementia attitudes and help-seeking intentions: an investigation of responses to two scenarios of an experience of the early signs of dementia Published In Aging and Mental Health Volume 19 Pages 968 - 977 ISSN 1360-7863 Altmetric
2015	Knowledge of, beliefs about, and perceived barriers to organ and tissue donation in Serbian, Macedonian, and Greek Orthodox communities in Australia Published In Progress in Transplantation: the journal for procurement and clinical transplant professionals Volume 25 Pages 91 - 99 ISSN 1526-9248 Altmetric
2015	The brave new world of older patients: preparing general practice training for an ageing population Published In Primary Health Care Research and Development Volume 16 Pages 578 - 588 ISSN 1463-4236 Altmetric
2015	‘I don’t want to cause any trouble’: the attitudes of hospital patients towards patient empowerment strategies to reduce healthcare-acquired infections Published In Journal of Infection Prevention Volume 16 Pages 167 - 173 Altmetric
2014	A review of the factors associated with the non-use of respite services by cares of people with dementia. implications for policy and practice. Published In Health and Social Care in the Community Volume 22 Pages 1 - 12 ISSN 0966-0410 Altmetric
2014	Correlates of dementia attitudes in a sample of middle-aged Australian adults Published In Australasian Journal on Ageing Volume 33 Pages 158 - 163 Altmetric
2014	Cultural beliefs about cancer influencing help-seeking and symptom appraisal: a meta-synthesis of qualitative findings Published In Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 10 Pages 118 - 118 ISSN 1743-7555 Altmetric
2014	Development of an evidence-based framework to support knowledge translation within the Australian Dementia Training and Study Program Published In Australian Journal of Dementia Care Volume 3 Page p. 32
2014	Promoting awareness, knowledge of and compliance with the National Children's Physical Activity Guidelines Published In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Volume 18 Page p. e155 ISSN 1440-2440 Altmetric
2013	Addressing stigma and engaging orthodox religious communities around organ and tissue donation Published In Transplantation Volume 96 Pages S273 - S273 ISSN 0041-1337 Altmetric
2013	Using social marketing to promote cold and flu prevention behaviors on an Australian university campus Published In Cases in Public Health Communication and Marketing Volume 7 Pages 99 - 119
2013	Why carers of people with dementia do not utilise out-of-home respite services Published In Health and Social Care in the Community Volume 21 Pages 411 - 422 ISSN 0966-0410 Altmetric
2012	Use of day centers for respite by help-seeking caregivers of individuals with dementia Published In Journal of Gerontological Nursing Volume 38 Pages 24 - 37 ISSN 0098-9134 Altmetric
2011	"Between the devil and the deep blue sea": the beliefs of caregivers of people with dementia regarding the use of in-home respite services Published In Home Health Care Services Quarterly Volume 30 Pages 43 - 62 ISSN 0162-1424 Altmetric
2011	Residential respite care: The caregiver's last resort Published In Journal of Gerontological Social Work Volume 54 Pages 691 - 711 ISSN 0163-4372 Altmetric
2010	'Most men drink... especially like when they play sports' - alcohol advertising during sporting broadcasts and the potential impact on child audiences Published In Journal of Public Affairs Volume 10 Pages 59 - 73 ISSN 1472-3891 Altmetric
2010	General practice registrars: attitudes of older patients Published In Australian Family Physician Volume 39 Pages 419 - 424 ISSN 0300-8495
2009	Effective communication only part of the strategy needed to promote help-seeking of young people with mental health problems Published In Social Marketing Quarterly Volume 15 Pages 50 - 62 ISSN 1524-5004 Altmetric
2009	Factors influencing the non-use of respite services by caregivers of people living with dementia differ according to respite product Published In Alzheimer's and Dementia Volume 5 Pages e15 - e15 ISSN 1552-5279
2009	Older patients' attitudes to general practice registrars: a qualitative study Published In Australian Family Physician Volume 38 Pages 927 - 931 ISSN 0300-8495
2009	Patients' attitudes to general practice registrars: a review of the literature Published In Education for Primary Care Volume 20 Pages 371 - 378 ISSN 1473-9879

Chapter

Year	Title
2015	Evidence-based practice Published In Care of the Person with Dementia: Interprofessional Practice and Education Publisher Port Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press Pages 63 - 80 ISBN 9781107678453
2013	Cold and flu affect more than you: A social marketing campaign targeting influenza transmission on a university campus Published In Social Marketing: From Tunes to Symphonies Publisher Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge Pages 401 - 408 ISBN 9780415683722 Edition 2

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2018	Testing an Easy Read Version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit to assess quality of life in community dwelling older people with cognitive impairment Published In 47th Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology
2018	‘Rethink Respite’: an innovative community pilot project for carers of people with dementia to improve knowledge about, attitudes towards, and use of respite Published In 33rd International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International
2017	Older consumers, choice and decision-making in community aged care Published In Emerging Health Policy Researchers Conference
2017	What happened to carer respite? Implications of community care reforms in Australia Published In 7th International Carers Conference
2016	Consumer Directed Care: Understanding and promoting participation and care outcomes for people living with dementia in receipt of a Home Care Package. Published In Australian Dementia Forum
2016	Re-imagining Respite In Aged Care and Carer Reforms Published In Re-Imagining Our Future : 49th AAG Conference 2016
2015	Building blocks for dementia friendly communities: mapping dementia friendly places and spaces in Kiama Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 27
2015	Evaluating the characteristics of public and commercial buildings that are enabling and disabling for people with dementia Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Pages 139 - 139
2015	Flexible respite for carers of people with dementia Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 231
2015	Integrated literature review - workforce participation and making decisions to stay or retire Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 184
2015	The incorporation of Transformative Consumer Research principles within the ‘Cancer Good News’ social marketing project: A Case Study Published In World Social Marketing Conference Sydney 2015 Pages 21 - 21
2015	The utility of Action Research to support the development of Dementia Friendly Communities Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 141
2014	Improving awareness, attitudes and uptake of the Australian physical a ctivity g uidelines among primary school students, their teachers and parents Published In International Social Marketing Conference 2014 Proceedings Pages 1 - 6
2014	The brave new world of older patients: preparing general practice training for an ageing population Published In 2014 General Practice Education and Training Convention: Academic paper abstracts Pages 1 - 1
2014	The cancer good news project Published In International Social Marketing Conference 2014 Proceedings Pages 1 - 6
2013	Knowledge translation in environmental design of residential aged care facilities for people with dementia Published In 8th National Dementia Research Forum
2013	Project Good News - Engaging priority CALD communities to reduce the stigma associated with cancer Published In Second Annual Innovations in Cancer Services & Care Conference
2013	Taking a consumer driven approach to support residential respite service use by caregivers of people with dementia Published In Alzheimer's Australia 15th National Conference
2012	Engaging psychology students in clinical placements in dementia care Published In ANZMAC 2012: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 7
2012	Preventing the spread of colds and flu: a University based social marketing campaign Published In 2012 International social marketing conference (ISM): conference proceedings Pages 118 - 121
2012	Using Social Marketing to Reduce Cold and Flu Transmission On a University Campus Published In National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media
2012	Using health risk assessments to target and tailor: An innovative social marketing program in aged care facilities. Published In 2012 International social marketing conference (ISM): conference proceedings Pages 114 - 117
2011	Dementia, stigma and intentions to help-seek: a pilot sutdy of Australian adults 40 to 65 years Published In Alzheimer's Australia 14th National Conference
2011	Developing Messages to Create Community Awareness of Hypertension as a Risk Factor for Dementia Published In Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
2011	Implementation and evaluation of a community-based social marketing campaign to create awareness of hypertension as a risk factor for dementia Published In Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
2011	Why caregivers of people with dementia don't utilise out-of-home respite services Published In Alzheimer's Asutralia 14th National Conference
2010	Preparing for an ageing population: a survey of older patients' attitudes to general practice registrars Published In 2010 General Practice Education and Training Convention: Clinical and Cultural Competence: Everybody's Business Page p. 3
2009	Alcohol advertising during free to air television sporting Published In Sustainable Social Enterprise - International Nonprofit and Social Marketing Conference Pages 1 - 8

2009	The Conference for General Practice 2009 Published In Older patients’ attitudes to general practice registrars: a qualitative study Pages 72 - 73
2008	Developing Effective Communication Strategies to Promote the Help-Seeking of Young People With Mental Health Problems in the Illawarra Published In International Non-profit and Social Marketing Conference Pages 1 - 6
2008	Evaluating the impact of the narrow cast marketing of 'Snake Condoms' to indigenous youth Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 6
2008	I eat Milo to make me run faster: how the use of sport in food marketing may influence the food beliefs of young Australians Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 7
2007	Awareness of alcohol advertising among children who watch televised sports Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 5
2007	Branding: An adolescent sun protection perspective Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1662 - 1669

Report

Year	Title
2017	Dementia Enabling University Strategy (DEUS) – A pilot project at University of Wollongong: Final report Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Geographic gerontology and Dementia Friendly Environments: Illuminating perspectives of people with dementia and their carers. Final Report to Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation
2017	MCCI CALD Carer Support Project: Social Marketing Plan
2017	Multicultural Carers Support Project – Formative Research Report: Attitudes and beliefs about carer support services in Turkish and Vietnamese communities in the Illawarra
2017	Multicultural Carers Support Project – Literature Review: Use of support services by carers of older people from CALD backgrounds: a review of abilities which support accessibility of support services in Australia. Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Rethink Respite: Final Report. Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review Publisher Centre for Health Service Development, Australian Health Services Research Institute External URL Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review
2012	A systematic review to update the Australian physical activity guidelines for children and young people ISBN 9781741860672 Publisher Commonwealth of Australia
2012	Effectiveness of ‘signs and symptoms’ campaigns for lun g cancer: a rapid review Publisher The Sax Institute
2012	Improving cancer outcomes among culturally and linguistically diverse communities: a rapid review of the literature Publisher The Sax Institute
2007	Exploring the issues associated with caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and the implications for health care worker safety Publisher University of Wollongong
2007	Final Project Report "Range and adequacy of skills attained by participants in general practice training programs" Publisher Centre for Health Initiatives, Universisty of Wollongong
2007	Food Marketing to Children in Australia for the Cancer Council Australia's Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee Publisher University of Wollongong

Investigator On

Year	Title
2015 - 2020	Consumer Directed Care: Understanding and promoting participation and care outcomes for people living with dementia in receipt of a Home Care Package Awarded by: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Funding Scheme: Dementia Research Development Fellowship
2017	Community led lntergenerational Playgroups: developing a best practice model and toolkit for residential care settings Awarded by: Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) Funding Scheme: Liveable Communities Grant
2015 - 2017	Improving older persons' involvement in decisions concerning their health care Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant
2015 - 2017	Investigating the efficacy of an online intervention aiming to increase respite use amongst carers of people with dementia: Roles of motivational enhancement and professional delivery Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2015 - 2016	Making flexible respite care a practical reality Awarded by: Department of Social Services Funding Scheme: Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants (ACSIHAG)
2014 - 2016	RAID: The development and trial of an innovative community-based Respite Action Intervention for carers of people with Dementia Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2014 - 2015	Geographic Gerontology and Dementia-friendly Environments: Illuminating the perspective of people with dementia and their carers in a local community Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2012	Evaluating the impact of the introduction of a systematic approach to designing environments for people with dementia: an action research project. Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: IRT Research Fundation Grants
2012	Reducing stigma and enabling help seeking for cancer in priority CALD communities in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District Awarded by: Cancer Institute NSW Funding Scheme: CSI Cross Divisional Grants Program
2011	Organ and Tissue Donation - Engaging Orthodox Communities Awarded by: Australian Government Organ and Tissue Authority Funding Scheme: Community Awareness Grants Program
2010 - 2011	Promoting healthy lifestyles in IRT self care communities Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant

Impact Story

RESEARCH AND ACTION TO PIONEER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES: The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ Story
Summary
Alongside the demographic aging of the population, there is a corresponding increase in the number of people living with dementia. International estimates are 46 million, with this number expected to rise to 138 million by 2050 (ADI, 2016). The increasing prevalence of dementia will demand a shift in both the social and the physical environments within which we live. Low levels of public understanding can contribute to the fear, stigma and social exclusion associated with living with dementia. Public spaces and civic buildings are not often designed in ways which are supportive of people with dementia participating in civic life. ‘Dementia friendly’ communities aim to address this by empowering people with dementia and increasing their social inclusion. They also aim to create more supportive physical environment to enable participation.The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ project (led by Dr Lyn Phillipson) and colleagues from UOW (Brennan-Horley, Fleming, Cridland, Hall and Hasan) is a partnership between the University of Wollongong (UOW) Global Challenges Program, the Kiama Municipal Council, the Kiama community and Dementia Australia. The project utilises a Community-based Participatory Action Research framework to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of a multicomponent dementia-friendly community intervention. Research in Kiama has included interviews and mapping exercises with people with dementia and their carers, community and business surveys, piloting a Dementia-friendly business toolkit and the development of an environmental assessment tool for use in the auditing of public buildings. Formative research activities guided the Action Plan of a local Dementia Alliance and Dementia Advisory Group. Evaluative research activities monitor inputs, outputs, impacts and outcomes of the project. Key achievements include:1.) The empowerment of people living with dementia – including opportunities for civic participation, social inclusion and peer support through the Southern Dementia Advisory Group and other project activities2.) Improved community understanding and increased positive attitudes with regard to the capabilities of people living with dementia. This has been achieved via education sessions (with over 1000 attendances) and the development of new information resources e.g. the ‘Dementia Illawarra’ website (<a href="www.dementiaIS.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.dementiaIS.com</a>).3.) Tools to improve the physical environment –including the Dementia Friendly Communities Environmental Assessment Tool (DFC-EAT) and the establishment of the ‘OurPlace’ Kiama mapping tool (http://ourplacemap.com/)4.) Public recognition and acclaim - the project received an Excellence in Community Partnerships Award at the National Disability Awards (2016) and was recognised at the 7th Global Conference for the Alliance of Healthy Cities (2016) by the World Health Organisation.5.) The model and tools have informed Dementia Australia’s $3.9 million ‘National Dementia Friendly Communities Strategy’ (funded by the Department of Health, 2017-2021.6.) The project has also had an impact at UOW. Programs such as the ‘Dementia Enabling University Strategy’ has increased opportunities for students from all five faculties to study the impact of dementia and consider their role in the creation of a dementia friendly society. The Global Challenges project has also continued to support new interdisciplinary projects that address the societal challenges of dementia. 

Detail View

Detail View Summary View
Detail of Impact
Responding to an identified needKiama is an example of what is known in Australia as a ‘sea-change’ town. It is popular with retirees as a place to live out their senior years due to its attractive coastal location, village atmosphere and relative access to cities (Wollongong and Sydney) via a railway corridor. The larger Kiama State Electorate has a population of 69,000 people. Due to the ageing demographic profile of the region, the number of people living with dementia in the State Electorate is projected to increase from the current 1200 to almost 4000 by 2050. Kiama Council was already working towards becoming an aged-friendly city and had a strong history of community engagement. However, it had identified that it had experienced barriers to understanding the specific needs of residents with dementia and how it could better support their active aging. Participatory Processes and GovernanceThe ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ utilised a Community-based Participatory Action Research framework to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of a multicomponent dementia-friendly community intervention. Kiama Council was already working towards becoming an aged-friendly city and had a strong history of community engagement. This provided a strong foundation around which to engage community members and groups to support the aims of the project. In the early stages of the project, a Dementia Advisory Group (consisting of people living with dementia and their carer partners) and a Dementia Alliance (including members of the Advisory Group, representatives from partner and other relevant organisations, and interested individuals) were formed. These groups played a governance role and also supported the development, implementation and evaluation of all stages of the project. Action ResearchThe university had specific expertise with regards to social research with people with dementia (Phillipson), design and dementia (Fleming), human geography (Brennan-Horley), social marketing (Phillipson and Hall), psychology (Cridland) and information management (Hasan). The university undertook formative research with people living with dementia in the Kiama area and their carer partners, as well as members of the Kiama community.Research activities included interviews and mapping exercises with people with dementia and their carers, community and business surveys, piloting a Dementia-friendly business toolkit and the development of an environmental assessment tool for auditing of public buildings. Co-design and Collaborative ImplementationThe Dementia Advisory Group and the Dementia Alliance reviewed the formative research and developed an action plan. The University researchers were part of the broader Alliance who conducted this review and developed the aims for the action plan. Aims included increasing community awareness about dementia and local services, promoting understanding of the lived experience of dementia and reducing the stigma of dementia. It also included goals to improve the physical environment with regards to signage, way finding, pedestrian crossings and bus stop identification. Importantly the University participated as an ongoing member of the Dementia Alliance. Awareness raising and educational activities were co-designed and co-facilitated by members of the Dementia Advisory Group. This was based on their desire for local people to understand their lives and share their awareness - which has also been found in other research. The decision to support the active involvement of local people with dementia in media and educational events was also based on a previous study of dementia stigma in Australia which found that having contact with a person with dementia was associated with lower levels of personal avoidance of the condition. Education and awareness raising activities over an 18-month period included information and education sessions delivered to over 1000 community members. People living with dementia and their carers participated in all activities sharing their experiences in the media and via presentations and panel discussions at educational events. They were also involved in direct consultation with community organisations, businesses and services including the Chamber of Commerce, service clubs and general practitioners. The project attracted over 30 instances of media attention including radio, TV and print at local, Sydney and national level in which local people living with dementia frequently featured. Four websites featured information about the project, including the project website (www.dementiais.com), which promoted local information, resources and services for people with dementia, a local calendar of events and over 35 news blogs specific to the project. A Dementia Friendly Kiama brand was developed and printed material (including flyers, posters, brochures and newsletters) were widely distributed. Tools and processes for inclusive action Research and collaboration methods required adaptation to promote the inclusion of people with dementia. This had an impact on where and when activities occurred, the environment in which they occurred and the amount of information presented and the time people were given to prepare in advance.Activities in the physical environment included the initial development of the Dementia Friendly Communities Environmental Assessment Tool (DFC-EAT). The DFC-EAT was utilised by the Kiama Community College and the Kiama Library to inform environmental changes to improve accessibility in these public buildings for people with dementia. The ‘OurPlace’ Kiama web interface was also established (<a href="http://ourplacemap.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://ourplacemap.com/</a>). The online maps are used to crowd source and share information about dementia-friendly places and ideas for action. These were reviewed at Dementia Alliance meetings. The development of these tools appears a critical feature of the growing and broader impact of this project. Subsequent validation of DFC-EAT has received national and international recognition and is available for use via www.enablingenvironments.com.au and via mobile applications. ‘Our Place’ maps have also supported the development of another four dementia friendly communities across Australia since their introduction in 2015.
Field of Research
Countries / Regions
Beneficiaries

Beneficiary Quantification Description
External Partners
Evidence of Impact

Evidence Description
UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators

Available as Research Supervisor

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy	Big Food and Corporate Social Responsibility: deception or public good?
Doctor of Philosophy	The symbolic meaning associated with sun protection and tanning in adolescents: A study of attitudes and behaviours in outdoor environments	Kurtulmus, Yasmen
Master of Philosophy	Lost in translation? exploring the usefulness of three methods to identify best sources of evidence for care staff on the non-pharmacological alleviation of responsive behaviours in dementia	Kubel, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	Conceptualizing and exploring stigma and the social construction of the HPV vaccination, Academic and community discourses	Prokopovich, Kathleen
Doctor of Philosophy	Exploring Employee Experiences of retirement due to signs and symptoms of pementia	Andrew, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	What is the impact of the marketisation of the commonwealth home care packages on the lived relational experience of informal carers?	Duncan, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	A double edged spear - the social life of youth, mobile phones and social media in a remote Aboriginal community	Kariippanon, Kishan
Doctor of Philosophy	Examining the impact of dementia on patterns of hospitalisation: A longitudinal analysis of hospital admissions in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven	Cappetta, Kara

Top Publications

Year	Title
2018	More than talking: A scoping review of innovative approaches to qualitative research involving people with dementia. Published in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
2018	Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project Published in Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published in Australian Journal of Social Issues
2017	The development and testing of the dementia friendly communities environment assessment tool (DFC EAT) Published in International Psychogeriatrics
2016	Reflections and recommendations for conducting in-depth interviews with people With dementia Published in Qualitative Health Research
2016	Applying knowledge translation concepts and strategies in dementia care education for health professionals: recommendations from a narrative literature review Published in Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions
2015	Dementia attitudes and help-seeking intentions: an investigation of responses to two scenarios of an experience of the early signs of dementia Published in Aging and Mental Health
2014	Correlates of dementia attitudes in a sample of middle-aged Australian adults Published in Australasian Journal on Ageing
2014	A review of the factors associated with the non-use of respite services by cares of people with dementia. implications for policy and practice. Published in Health and Social Care in the Community
2013	Why carers of people with dementia do not utilise out-of-home respite services Published in Health and Social Care in the Community
2012	Use of day centers for respite by help-seeking caregivers of individuals with dementia Published in Journal of Gerontological Nursing
2011	"Between the devil and the deep blue sea": the beliefs of caregivers of people with dementia regarding the use of in-home respite services Published in Home Health Care Services Quarterly
2011	Residential respite care: The caregiver's last resort Published in Journal of Gerontological Social Work
2017	Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review

Research Areas

1117 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

Research Overview

Lyn is an award-winning public health academic with an interest in social health and the personal, social, environmental and service factors which support it. She has expertise in working with people with dementia and their carers and the use of participatory and visual research methods. Lyn also has expertise in the use of social marketing as an action framework to promote health in the areas of: dementia friendly communities, dementia risk reduction, dementia help-seeking and service utilisation and cancer help-seeking in CALD communities.

In 2018, Lyn was appointed as an WHO-IFA Age Friendly Mentor which supports her contribution to the development of global capacity to create Age and Dementia Friendly Environments. She also plays a leadership role at the University of Wollongong, engaging researchers from all disciplines in the global challenges associated with dementia through the Dementia Enabling University Strategy.

Examples of her current research include:
- Exploring the impact of Consumer Directed Care on people with dementia who are recipients of Home Care Packages (NHMRC-ARC Fellowship)
- Development of ‘Dementia Friendly Communities and Organisations’ in the Kiama Local Government area (Global Challenges, UOW).
- Promoting Intergenerational Playgroups in Residential Aged Settings (Playgroups NSW, Liveable Communities Grant)
- Safe and Just Futures for People living with Dementia in Residential Aged Care (Dementia Research Foundation)
- Rethink Respite - a social marketing approach to promote respite service use in carers of people with dementia in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven (Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Research Foundation)
- Improving older persons' involvement in decisions concerning their health care (IRT Foundation)

Geographic Focus

Australia Country
Illawarra Shoalhaven region Geographic Region

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2018	Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project Published In Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice Volume Online First Pages 1 - 16 ISSN 1471-3012 Altmetric
2018	More than talking: A scoping review of innovative approaches to qualitative research involving people with dementia. Published In International Journal of Qualitative Methods Volume 17 Pages 1 - 13 ISSN 1609-4069 Altmetric
2018	Re-design of Aged Care Environments is Key to Improved Care Quality and Cost Effective Reform of Aged and Health System Care Published In Applied Health Economics and Health Policy Volume Online First Pages 1 - 4 ISSN 1175-5652 Altmetric
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published In Australian Journal of Social Issues Volume 53 Pages 107 - 122 ISSN 0157-6321 Altmetric
2018	Staff and family attitudes to fences as a means of detaining people with dementia in residential aged care settings: The tension between physical and emotional safety Published In Australian Journal of Social Issues Volume 53 Pages 107 - 122 ISSN 0157-6321 Altmetric
2018	What is the impact of dementia on occupational competence, occupational participation and occupational identity for people who experience onset of symptoms while in paid employment? A scoping review Published In Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Volume Online First Pages 1 - 15 ISSN 0045-0766 Altmetric
2017	A feasibility study of team-based primary care for chronic disease management training in rural Australia Published In Australian Journal of Rural Health Volume 25 Pages 66 - 67 ISSN 1038-5282 Altmetric
2017	Are Big Food’s corporate social responsibility strategies valuable to communities? A qualitative study with parents and children Published In Public Health Nutrition Volume 20 Pages 3372 - 3380 ISSN 1368-9800 Altmetric
2017	Cancer beliefs in ethnic minority populations: a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies Published In European Journal of Cancer Care Volume 26 Pages e12556-1 - e12556-13 ISSN 0961-5423 Altmetric
2017	Employee perspectives: Exploring the journey from paid work to retirement due onset of a dementia Published In Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Volume 64 Page p. 52 ISSN 0045-0766 Altmetric
2017	The development and testing of the dementia friendly communities environment assessment tool (DFC EAT) Published In International Psychogeriatrics Volume 29 Pages 303 - 311 ISSN 1041-6102 Altmetric
2016	Applying knowledge translation concepts and strategies in dementia care education for health professionals: recommendations from a narrative literature review Published In Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions Volume 36 Pages 74 - 81 ISSN 0894-1912 Altmetric
2016	Empowering patients in the hospital as a new approach to reducing the burden of health care-associated infections: the attitudes of hospital health care workers Published In American Journal of Infection Control Volume 44 Pages 263 - 268 ISSN 0196-6553 Altmetric
2016	Reflections and recommendations for conducting in-depth interviews with people With dementia Published In Qualitative Health Research Volume 26 Pages 1774 - 1786 ISSN 1049-7323 Altmetric
2015	A review of current practices to increase Chlamydia screening in the community - a consumer-centred social marketing perspective Published In Health Expectations Volume 19 Pages 5 - 25 ISSN 1369-6513 Altmetric
2015	Ask, speak up, and be proactive: empowering patient infection control to prevent health care-acquired infections Published In American Journal of Infection Control Volume 43 Pages 447 - 453 ISSN 0196-6553 Altmetric
2015	Dementia attitudes and help-seeking intentions: an investigation of responses to two scenarios of an experience of the early signs of dementia Published In Aging and Mental Health Volume 19 Pages 968 - 977 ISSN 1360-7863 Altmetric
2015	Knowledge of, beliefs about, and perceived barriers to organ and tissue donation in Serbian, Macedonian, and Greek Orthodox communities in Australia Published In Progress in Transplantation: the journal for procurement and clinical transplant professionals Volume 25 Pages 91 - 99 ISSN 1526-9248 Altmetric
2015	The brave new world of older patients: preparing general practice training for an ageing population Published In Primary Health Care Research and Development Volume 16 Pages 578 - 588 ISSN 1463-4236 Altmetric
2015	‘I don’t want to cause any trouble’: the attitudes of hospital patients towards patient empowerment strategies to reduce healthcare-acquired infections Published In Journal of Infection Prevention Volume 16 Pages 167 - 173 Altmetric
2014	A review of the factors associated with the non-use of respite services by cares of people with dementia. implications for policy and practice. Published In Health and Social Care in the Community Volume 22 Pages 1 - 12 ISSN 0966-0410 Altmetric
2014	Correlates of dementia attitudes in a sample of middle-aged Australian adults Published In Australasian Journal on Ageing Volume 33 Pages 158 - 163 Altmetric
2014	Cultural beliefs about cancer influencing help-seeking and symptom appraisal: a meta-synthesis of qualitative findings Published In Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 10 Pages 118 - 118 ISSN 1743-7555 Altmetric
2014	Development of an evidence-based framework to support knowledge translation within the Australian Dementia Training and Study Program Published In Australian Journal of Dementia Care Volume 3 Page p. 32
2014	Promoting awareness, knowledge of and compliance with the National Children's Physical Activity Guidelines Published In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Volume 18 Page p. e155 ISSN 1440-2440 Altmetric
2013	Addressing stigma and engaging orthodox religious communities around organ and tissue donation Published In Transplantation Volume 96 Pages S273 - S273 ISSN 0041-1337 Altmetric
2013	Using social marketing to promote cold and flu prevention behaviors on an Australian university campus Published In Cases in Public Health Communication and Marketing Volume 7 Pages 99 - 119
2013	Why carers of people with dementia do not utilise out-of-home respite services Published In Health and Social Care in the Community Volume 21 Pages 411 - 422 ISSN 0966-0410 Altmetric
2012	Use of day centers for respite by help-seeking caregivers of individuals with dementia Published In Journal of Gerontological Nursing Volume 38 Pages 24 - 37 ISSN 0098-9134 Altmetric
2011	"Between the devil and the deep blue sea": the beliefs of caregivers of people with dementia regarding the use of in-home respite services Published In Home Health Care Services Quarterly Volume 30 Pages 43 - 62 ISSN 0162-1424 Altmetric
2011	Residential respite care: The caregiver's last resort Published In Journal of Gerontological Social Work Volume 54 Pages 691 - 711 ISSN 0163-4372 Altmetric
2010	'Most men drink... especially like when they play sports' - alcohol advertising during sporting broadcasts and the potential impact on child audiences Published In Journal of Public Affairs Volume 10 Pages 59 - 73 ISSN 1472-3891 Altmetric
2010	General practice registrars: attitudes of older patients Published In Australian Family Physician Volume 39 Pages 419 - 424 ISSN 0300-8495
2009	Effective communication only part of the strategy needed to promote help-seeking of young people with mental health problems Published In Social Marketing Quarterly Volume 15 Pages 50 - 62 ISSN 1524-5004 Altmetric
2009	Factors influencing the non-use of respite services by caregivers of people living with dementia differ according to respite product Published In Alzheimer's and Dementia Volume 5 Pages e15 - e15 ISSN 1552-5279
2009	Older patients' attitudes to general practice registrars: a qualitative study Published In Australian Family Physician Volume 38 Pages 927 - 931 ISSN 0300-8495
2009	Patients' attitudes to general practice registrars: a review of the literature Published In Education for Primary Care Volume 20 Pages 371 - 378 ISSN 1473-9879

Chapter

Year	Title
2015	Evidence-based practice Published In Care of the Person with Dementia: Interprofessional Practice and Education Publisher Port Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press Pages 63 - 80 ISBN 9781107678453
2013	Cold and flu affect more than you: A social marketing campaign targeting influenza transmission on a university campus Published In Social Marketing: From Tunes to Symphonies Publisher Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge Pages 401 - 408 ISBN 9780415683722 Edition 2

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2018	Testing an Easy Read Version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit to assess quality of life in community dwelling older people with cognitive impairment Published In 47th Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology
2018	‘Rethink Respite’: an innovative community pilot project for carers of people with dementia to improve knowledge about, attitudes towards, and use of respite Published In 33rd International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International
2017	Older consumers, choice and decision-making in community aged care Published In Emerging Health Policy Researchers Conference
2017	What happened to carer respite? Implications of community care reforms in Australia Published In 7th International Carers Conference
2016	Consumer Directed Care: Understanding and promoting participation and care outcomes for people living with dementia in receipt of a Home Care Package. Published In Australian Dementia Forum
2016	Re-imagining Respite In Aged Care and Carer Reforms Published In Re-Imagining Our Future : 49th AAG Conference 2016
2015	Building blocks for dementia friendly communities: mapping dementia friendly places and spaces in Kiama Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 27
2015	Evaluating the characteristics of public and commercial buildings that are enabling and disabling for people with dementia Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Pages 139 - 139
2015	Flexible respite for carers of people with dementia Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 231
2015	Integrated literature review - workforce participation and making decisions to stay or retire Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 184
2015	The incorporation of Transformative Consumer Research principles within the ‘Cancer Good News’ social marketing project: A Case Study Published In World Social Marketing Conference Sydney 2015 Pages 21 - 21
2015	The utility of Action Research to support the development of Dementia Friendly Communities Published In 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International: Abstract Book Page p. 141
2014	Improving awareness, attitudes and uptake of the Australian physical a ctivity g uidelines among primary school students, their teachers and parents Published In International Social Marketing Conference 2014 Proceedings Pages 1 - 6
2014	The brave new world of older patients: preparing general practice training for an ageing population Published In 2014 General Practice Education and Training Convention: Academic paper abstracts Pages 1 - 1
2014	The cancer good news project Published In International Social Marketing Conference 2014 Proceedings Pages 1 - 6
2013	Knowledge translation in environmental design of residential aged care facilities for people with dementia Published In 8th National Dementia Research Forum
2013	Project Good News - Engaging priority CALD communities to reduce the stigma associated with cancer Published In Second Annual Innovations in Cancer Services & Care Conference
2013	Taking a consumer driven approach to support residential respite service use by caregivers of people with dementia Published In Alzheimer's Australia 15th National Conference
2012	Engaging psychology students in clinical placements in dementia care Published In ANZMAC 2012: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 7
2012	Preventing the spread of colds and flu: a University based social marketing campaign Published In 2012 International social marketing conference (ISM): conference proceedings Pages 118 - 121
2012	Using Social Marketing to Reduce Cold and Flu Transmission On a University Campus Published In National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media
2012	Using health risk assessments to target and tailor: An innovative social marketing program in aged care facilities. Published In 2012 International social marketing conference (ISM): conference proceedings Pages 114 - 117
2011	Dementia, stigma and intentions to help-seek: a pilot sutdy of Australian adults 40 to 65 years Published In Alzheimer's Australia 14th National Conference
2011	Developing Messages to Create Community Awareness of Hypertension as a Risk Factor for Dementia Published In Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
2011	Implementation and evaluation of a community-based social marketing campaign to create awareness of hypertension as a risk factor for dementia Published In Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
2011	Why caregivers of people with dementia don't utilise out-of-home respite services Published In Alzheimer's Asutralia 14th National Conference
2010	Preparing for an ageing population: a survey of older patients' attitudes to general practice registrars Published In 2010 General Practice Education and Training Convention: Clinical and Cultural Competence: Everybody's Business Page p. 3
2009	Alcohol advertising during free to air television sporting Published In Sustainable Social Enterprise - International Nonprofit and Social Marketing Conference Pages 1 - 8

2009	The Conference for General Practice 2009 Published In Older patients’ attitudes to general practice registrars: a qualitative study Pages 72 - 73
2008	Developing Effective Communication Strategies to Promote the Help-Seeking of Young People With Mental Health Problems in the Illawarra Published In International Non-profit and Social Marketing Conference Pages 1 - 6
2008	Evaluating the impact of the narrow cast marketing of 'Snake Condoms' to indigenous youth Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 6
2008	I eat Milo to make me run faster: how the use of sport in food marketing may influence the food beliefs of young Australians Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 7
2007	Awareness of alcohol advertising among children who watch televised sports Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1 - 5
2007	Branding: An adolescent sun protection perspective Published In Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference Pages 1662 - 1669

Report

Year	Title
2017	Dementia Enabling University Strategy (DEUS) – A pilot project at University of Wollongong: Final report Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Geographic gerontology and Dementia Friendly Environments: Illuminating perspectives of people with dementia and their carers. Final Report to Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation
2017	MCCI CALD Carer Support Project: Social Marketing Plan
2017	Multicultural Carers Support Project – Formative Research Report: Attitudes and beliefs about carer support services in Turkish and Vietnamese communities in the Illawarra
2017	Multicultural Carers Support Project – Literature Review: Use of support services by carers of older people from CALD backgrounds: a review of abilities which support accessibility of support services in Australia. Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Rethink Respite: Final Report. Publisher Australian Health Services Research Institute
2017	Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review Publisher Centre for Health Service Development, Australian Health Services Research Institute External URL Specialist dementia care units: an Evidence Check rapid review
2012	A systematic review to update the Australian physical activity guidelines for children and young people ISBN 9781741860672 Publisher Commonwealth of Australia
2012	Effectiveness of ‘signs and symptoms’ campaigns for lun g cancer: a rapid review Publisher The Sax Institute
2012	Improving cancer outcomes among culturally and linguistically diverse communities: a rapid review of the literature Publisher The Sax Institute
2007	Exploring the issues associated with caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and the implications for health care worker safety Publisher University of Wollongong
2007	Final Project Report "Range and adequacy of skills attained by participants in general practice training programs" Publisher Centre for Health Initiatives, Universisty of Wollongong
2007	Food Marketing to Children in Australia for the Cancer Council Australia's Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee Publisher University of Wollongong

Investigator On

Year	Title
2015 - 2020	Consumer Directed Care: Understanding and promoting participation and care outcomes for people living with dementia in receipt of a Home Care Package Awarded by: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Funding Scheme: Dementia Research Development Fellowship
2017	Community led lntergenerational Playgroups: developing a best practice model and toolkit for residential care settings Awarded by: Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) Funding Scheme: Liveable Communities Grant
2015 - 2017	Improving older persons' involvement in decisions concerning their health care Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant
2015 - 2017	Investigating the efficacy of an online intervention aiming to increase respite use amongst carers of people with dementia: Roles of motivational enhancement and professional delivery Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2015 - 2016	Making flexible respite care a practical reality Awarded by: Department of Social Services Funding Scheme: Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants (ACSIHAG)
2014 - 2016	RAID: The development and trial of an innovative community-based Respite Action Intervention for carers of people with Dementia Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2014 - 2015	Geographic Gerontology and Dementia-friendly Environments: Illuminating the perspective of people with dementia and their carers in a local community Awarded by: Alzheimer's Australia Research (AAR) Funding Scheme: Dementia Grants Program
2012	Evaluating the impact of the introduction of a systematic approach to designing environments for people with dementia: an action research project. Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: IRT Research Fundation Grants
2012	Reducing stigma and enabling help seeking for cancer in priority CALD communities in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District Awarded by: Cancer Institute NSW Funding Scheme: CSI Cross Divisional Grants Program
2011	Organ and Tissue Donation - Engaging Orthodox Communities Awarded by: Australian Government Organ and Tissue Authority Funding Scheme: Community Awareness Grants Program
2010 - 2011	Promoting healthy lifestyles in IRT self care communities Awarded by: IRT Research Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant

Impact Story

RESEARCH AND ACTION TO PIONEER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES: The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ Story
Summary
Alongside the demographic aging of the population, there is a corresponding increase in the number of people living with dementia. International estimates are 46 million, with this number expected to rise to 138 million by 2050 (ADI, 2016). The increasing prevalence of dementia will demand a shift in both the social and the physical environments within which we live. Low levels of public understanding can contribute to the fear, stigma and social exclusion associated with living with dementia. Public spaces and civic buildings are not often designed in ways which are supportive of people with dementia participating in civic life. ‘Dementia friendly’ communities aim to address this by empowering people with dementia and increasing their social inclusion. They also aim to create more supportive physical environment to enable participation.The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ project (led by Dr Lyn Phillipson) and colleagues from UOW (Brennan-Horley, Fleming, Cridland, Hall and Hasan) is a partnership between the University of Wollongong (UOW) Global Challenges Program, the Kiama Municipal Council, the Kiama community and Dementia Australia. The project utilises a Community-based Participatory Action Research framework to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of a multicomponent dementia-friendly community intervention. Research in Kiama has included interviews and mapping exercises with people with dementia and their carers, community and business surveys, piloting a Dementia-friendly business toolkit and the development of an environmental assessment tool for use in the auditing of public buildings. Formative research activities guided the Action Plan of a local Dementia Alliance and Dementia Advisory Group. Evaluative research activities monitor inputs, outputs, impacts and outcomes of the project. Key achievements include:1.) The empowerment of people living with dementia – including opportunities for civic participation, social inclusion and peer support through the Southern Dementia Advisory Group and other project activities2.) Improved community understanding and increased positive attitudes with regard to the capabilities of people living with dementia. This has been achieved via education sessions (with over 1000 attendances) and the development of new information resources e.g. the ‘Dementia Illawarra’ website (<a href="www.dementiaIS.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.dementiaIS.com</a>).3.) Tools to improve the physical environment –including the Dementia Friendly Communities Environmental Assessment Tool (DFC-EAT) and the establishment of the ‘OurPlace’ Kiama mapping tool (http://ourplacemap.com/)4.) Public recognition and acclaim - the project received an Excellence in Community Partnerships Award at the National Disability Awards (2016) and was recognised at the 7th Global Conference for the Alliance of Healthy Cities (2016) by the World Health Organisation.5.) The model and tools have informed Dementia Australia’s $3.9 million ‘National Dementia Friendly Communities Strategy’ (funded by the Department of Health, 2017-2021.6.) The project has also had an impact at UOW. Programs such as the ‘Dementia Enabling University Strategy’ has increased opportunities for students from all five faculties to study the impact of dementia and consider their role in the creation of a dementia friendly society. The Global Challenges project has also continued to support new interdisciplinary projects that address the societal challenges of dementia. 

Detail View

Detail View Summary View
Detail of Impact
Responding to an identified needKiama is an example of what is known in Australia as a ‘sea-change’ town. It is popular with retirees as a place to live out their senior years due to its attractive coastal location, village atmosphere and relative access to cities (Wollongong and Sydney) via a railway corridor. The larger Kiama State Electorate has a population of 69,000 people. Due to the ageing demographic profile of the region, the number of people living with dementia in the State Electorate is projected to increase from the current 1200 to almost 4000 by 2050. Kiama Council was already working towards becoming an aged-friendly city and had a strong history of community engagement. However, it had identified that it had experienced barriers to understanding the specific needs of residents with dementia and how it could better support their active aging. Participatory Processes and GovernanceThe ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ utilised a Community-based Participatory Action Research framework to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of a multicomponent dementia-friendly community intervention. Kiama Council was already working towards becoming an aged-friendly city and had a strong history of community engagement. This provided a strong foundation around which to engage community members and groups to support the aims of the project. In the early stages of the project, a Dementia Advisory Group (consisting of people living with dementia and their carer partners) and a Dementia Alliance (including members of the Advisory Group, representatives from partner and other relevant organisations, and interested individuals) were formed. These groups played a governance role and also supported the development, implementation and evaluation of all stages of the project. Action ResearchThe university had specific expertise with regards to social research with people with dementia (Phillipson), design and dementia (Fleming), human geography (Brennan-Horley), social marketing (Phillipson and Hall), psychology (Cridland) and information management (Hasan). The university undertook formative research with people living with dementia in the Kiama area and their carer partners, as well as members of the Kiama community.Research activities included interviews and mapping exercises with people with dementia and their carers, community and business surveys, piloting a Dementia-friendly business toolkit and the development of an environmental assessment tool for auditing of public buildings. Co-design and Collaborative ImplementationThe Dementia Advisory Group and the Dementia Alliance reviewed the formative research and developed an action plan. The University researchers were part of the broader Alliance who conducted this review and developed the aims for the action plan. Aims included increasing community awareness about dementia and local services, promoting understanding of the lived experience of dementia and reducing the stigma of dementia. It also included goals to improve the physical environment with regards to signage, way finding, pedestrian crossings and bus stop identification. Importantly the University participated as an ongoing member of the Dementia Alliance. Awareness raising and educational activities were co-designed and co-facilitated by members of the Dementia Advisory Group. This was based on their desire for local people to understand their lives and share their awareness - which has also been found in other research. The decision to support the active involvement of local people with dementia in media and educational events was also based on a previous study of dementia stigma in Australia which found that having contact with a person with dementia was associated with lower levels of personal avoidance of the condition. Education and awareness raising activities over an 18-month period included information and education sessions delivered to over 1000 community members. People living with dementia and their carers participated in all activities sharing their experiences in the media and via presentations and panel discussions at educational events. They were also involved in direct consultation with community organisations, businesses and services including the Chamber of Commerce, service clubs and general practitioners. The project attracted over 30 instances of media attention including radio, TV and print at local, Sydney and national level in which local people living with dementia frequently featured. Four websites featured information about the project, including the project website (www.dementiais.com), which promoted local information, resources and services for people with dementia, a local calendar of events and over 35 news blogs specific to the project. A Dementia Friendly Kiama brand was developed and printed material (including flyers, posters, brochures and newsletters) were widely distributed. Tools and processes for inclusive action Research and collaboration methods required adaptation to promote the inclusion of people with dementia. This had an impact on where and when activities occurred, the environment in which they occurred and the amount of information presented and the time people were given to prepare in advance.Activities in the physical environment included the initial development of the Dementia Friendly Communities Environmental Assessment Tool (DFC-EAT). The DFC-EAT was utilised by the Kiama Community College and the Kiama Library to inform environmental changes to improve accessibility in these public buildings for people with dementia. The ‘OurPlace’ Kiama web interface was also established (<a href="http://ourplacemap.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://ourplacemap.com/</a>). The online maps are used to crowd source and share information about dementia-friendly places and ideas for action. These were reviewed at Dementia Alliance meetings. The development of these tools appears a critical feature of the growing and broader impact of this project. Subsequent validation of DFC-EAT has received national and international recognition and is available for use via www.enablingenvironments.com.au and via mobile applications. ‘Our Place’ maps have also supported the development of another four dementia friendly communities across Australia since their introduction in 2015.
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UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy	Big Food and Corporate Social Responsibility: deception or public good?
Doctor of Philosophy	The symbolic meaning associated with sun protection and tanning in adolescents: A study of attitudes and behaviours in outdoor environments	Kurtulmus, Yasmen
Master of Philosophy	Lost in translation? exploring the usefulness of three methods to identify best sources of evidence for care staff on the non-pharmacological alleviation of responsive behaviours in dementia	Kubel, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	Conceptualizing and exploring stigma and the social construction of the HPV vaccination, Academic and community discourses	Prokopovich, Kathleen
Doctor of Philosophy	Exploring Employee Experiences of retirement due to signs and symptoms of pementia	Andrew, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	What is the impact of the marketisation of the commonwealth home care packages on the lived relational experience of informal carers?	Duncan, Catherine
Doctor of Philosophy	A double edged spear - the social life of youth, mobile phones and social media in a remote Aboriginal community	Kariippanon, Kishan
Doctor of Philosophy	Examining the impact of dementia on patterns of hospitalisation: A longitudinal analysis of hospital admissions in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven	Cappetta, Kara

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Available as Research Supervisor

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Investigator On

Impact

Impact Story

RESEARCH AND ACTION TO PIONEER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES: The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ Story

Supervision

Available as Research Supervisor

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Overview

Top Publications

Research Areas

Research Overview

Geographic Focus

Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Chapter

Conference Paper

Report

Funding

Investigator On

Impact

Impact Story

RESEARCH AND ACTION TO PIONEER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES: The ‘Dementia Friendly Kiama’ Story

Supervision

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

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Geographic Focus