A Flinders University research project assessing the impact of home modifications and how they contribute to older South Australians living independently at home for longer, will receive $100,000 as part of the inaugural Impact Research Grants for Ageing Well.

The Major Project grant, over two years, will enable university researchers to examine how homes can be modified to better support people to age well, maximise their participation in meaningful activities, and reduce their support needs.

The project will consider how home modifications affect diverse groups of older South Australians and evaluate the costs and return on investment.

The University of South Australia (UniSA) will receive a Seed Grant of $25,000 over one year to codevelop innovative team approaches to animal care.

Experiencing the benefits of human-animal relationships can enhance the lives of older people, however many people who wish to continue to have pets, find themselves facing a range of barriers.

The project will see researchers partner with the Animal Welfare League (SA) and Levande Lightsview Retirement Village, to trial and assess the development of ‘foster care teams’ to care for homeless pets.

UniSA will receive a second Seed Grant of $25,000 over one year to better understand the transition between loss of home ownership and the receipt of housing assistance.

In recent years, a growing number of older Australians has become reliant on housing assistance, a trend that is predicted to increase.

Project researchers will partner with Care Finder Housing Specialists and Believe Housing SA to examine the impact of this on wellbeing, and possible interventions, constraints, and opportunities for retaining homeownership.

The annual Impact Research Grants program is a key action of the new Strategic Research Agenda for Ageing Well, developed by Office for Ageing Well and the Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation (CHiAPRT), along with academic, policy and consumer representatives.

“I congratulate Flinders University and UniSA on their success in gaining funding for these research projects, which will help address questions of community importance and promote positive ageing,” said Cassie Mason, Executive Director of Office for Ageing Well.

“The awarded projects will allow us to learn more about areas of community interest, including how older people can age well in their own homes and maintain connections with pets.”

Office for Ageing Well and the CHiAPRT, which is jointly based at Health Translation SA and School of Public Health University of Adelaide, will work closely with grant recipients to ensure research produced involves older people and is able to guide ageing well policy and practice.

For more information visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/strategicresearchagenda.