Multidisciplinary allied health sees improved outcomes

Allied health is critical to healthy ageing, and Dr Alice Pashley’s latest research into multidisciplinary, reablement-focused models of care found aged care residents participating in the REABLE trial experienced greater strength, confidence and engagement in meaningful activities.

The research – published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology in June – also found the REABLE model led to improved physical functioning and a maintenance of quality of life and levels of frailty for older adults.

“Each allied health discipline brings a different worldview shaped by professional training, theoretical foundations, and practical experience,” she explained to AAA.

“Multidisciplinary allied health research recognises the value of these different perspectives in addressing the complex challenges of ageing. By working collaboratively, clinicians can identify complementary goals and design integrated interventions that address the complex needs of both the residents and aged care sector service delivery.”

She said a multidisciplinary and reablement-focused approach ensures a more holistic understanding of older people’s needs and generates evidence that reflects the real-world collaboration necessary in aged care settings.

“Ultimately, multidisciplinary research strengthens the quality, effectiveness, and person-centredness of care delivered to older people,” Dr Pashley said.

Dr Pashley will be discussing the trial’s feasibility, acceptability and clinical outcomes further at next month’s Australian Association of Gerontology conference in Alice Springs.

Allied health can bring long-term benefits

The REABLE trial included occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech pathologists, with clinicians from allied health for aged care provider Concentric delivering best-practice interventions to residents at two nursing homes and to older adults in the surrounding community.

But for the REABLE model to be widely implemented, Dr Pashley said fundamental changes need to be made in the way allied health is funded and valued in residential aged care. Aged care providers also need to support clinicians to deliver care through a reablement approach at their full professional scope in order to apply the research findings.

This will require revising the systems that govern allied health referrals to promote proactive, preventative care, not just reactive responses to decline, Dr Pashley explained.

But investing in reablement-focused allied health offers long-term benefits for both residents and staff and should be strongly considered by aged care providers, she added.

“Such an approach delivers the greatest value for investment by supporting residents to maintain or regain independence, reduce complications, and lessen care demands on staff,” she said.

“Importantly, it also enhances job satisfaction and professional growth, which are critical for attracting and retaining allied health professionals in the sector.”

The REABLE trial was the first study in an ongoing program of research at the University of Canberra Centre for Ageing Research and Translation focused on designing and evaluating best-practice multidisciplinary allied health models in residential aged care, Dr Pashley told AAA.

“Building on REABLE, we have developed and implemented the Enhancing Allied Health for Older People in Residential Care (EAHOP) model, which was expanded to include six allied health disciplines and extended the intervention duration,” she said.

The research team is currently evaluating the outcomes of the EAHOP trial and are seeking funding to conduct a multi-site trial to test its scalability.

“This body of work directly responds to the royal commission’s findings by demonstrating how best-practice aligned allied health models of care can be implemented in practice to improve outcomes for residents and strengthen aged care service delivery,” Dr Pashley said.

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