Current Sections: HRC Policy >> Research Policy >> Priority PopulationsThe HRC specifically prioritises research that is of high relevance and benefit to older adults (those aged 65 years and older). The HRC has made this explicit in the research strategies and in the HRC's assessment process. The Expert Panel on Older Adults reviews the totality of the research investment to ensure that the needs of this population are addressed. The Expert Panel has identified priorities across the following four domains (the list is not in order of priority):
Study Populations
- Research including study populations restricted to those aged 65 and over, including adequate proportions of the very old
- General population studies that include older adults and the very old to allow significant conclusions to be drawn
Conditions or Diseases of Special Relevance to Older Adults
- Stroke
- Cancers – prostrate, breast, bowel
- Dementia and neurodegenerative diseases
- Mental illness
- Sensory loss
- Joint diseases, arthritis, osteoporosis
Health and Disability Services
- Provision of community and hospital services for older adults
- Identification and evaluation of interventions to improve the health of older adults
- Approaches to care giving for older people (including residential care giving)
- Promotion of health and wellbeing for older adults
Relevance to the Health of Older People Strategy
- Development and evaluation of interventions to promote the health and wellbeing of older people (this includes health promotion, injury and disease prevention, treatment, home-based, residential and environmental support services)
- Development and evaluation of rehabilitation initiatives
- Assessing the effectiveness of health interventions to reduce the delay and onset of disease and disability amongst older people
- Assessing the effectiveness of service provision, in particular the effectiveness of different mixes of services and what works best to adequately support older people to remain in their homes (particular areas of work are development of outcome measures and evaluation of early interventions for dementia)
- Documenting and assessing the adequacy of staffing levels, skill mix, training opportunities and working conditions of the health sector workforce.
Research Portfolio Strategies
The HRC's Priority Populations
Last Updated : 21 November 2007 13:37:41.
