Dementia researchers win NHMRC grant

6 December 2006

Two researchers from Monash University's Aged Mental Health Research Unit have received funding to study Italian and Greek aged care facility residents living with dementia.

Professor Daniel O'Connor and Dr Susannah Runci received $187,303 from the National Health and Medical Research Council -- part of a $4.4 million suite of funding for dementia research announced by the Federal Minister for Ageing on 24 November.

Dr Runci said older persons from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds with dementia in aged care have received little research.

Dr Runci will use Italian and Greek speaking research assistants in the study.

"[They] will conduct data collection in aged care facilities with the older residents, as well as interviewing professional caregivers and family members," she said.

"We have also set up a steering committee, consisting of persons from Italian and Greek care organizations, Alzheimer's Australia, the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing, and Aged and Community Services Australia."

According to Dr Runci, English language proficiency plays a pivotal role in the experience of dementia for older CALD residents in Australia.

"Persons with dementia commonly lose their ability to speak in a second language -- if acquired since arrival in Australia -- as dementia progresses," she said.

The project is an extension of a study completed for Dr Runci's Doctorate of Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Professor O'Connor and Associate Professor Jenny Redman.