Dr Claire Gough plays a key role in shaping aged care policy through initiatives like the newly released Restorative Care Pathway Clinical Guidelines. We sat down with her to learn more about her life-improving work, and asked why her weekends are spent dodging hockey sticks.
What is your role here at Flinders?
I work as a Research Fellow in Health Services Integration and Policy with the Caring Futures Institute.
How did you get into this work?
I am a Physiotherapist by background and have always been interested in rehabilitation, digital health and supporting older people. I worked with the Lokomat, a robotic assisted gait trainer to assist people to walk again following stroke and other neurological conditions. This led me to enrol in the Masters of Clinical Rehabilitation at Flinders. I enjoyed the research component of the course which led me to complete a PhD focussed on community participation and the risks of social isolation for older adults. This happened to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic so showed some interesting changes in behaviour.
More recently I have been working in the Rehabilitation, reablement and restorative care space. With ARIIA I developed practical resources for older people, their support networks and the aged care sector. This work involved leading national round tables to explore challenges in consistent terminology and service delivery across the sector.
What are you working on at the moment?
Together with a team of CFI researchers, I recently contributed to the development of Restorative Care Pathway Clinical guidelines in collaboration with the Department of Health, Disability and ageing. These guidelines inform the new Support at Home program which will provide aged care services to older people living in the community. They play a key role in promoting consistent care delivery, providing guidance for carers and professionals to implement personalised restorative care interventions, and-most importantly- enhance functional outcomes for older people.
Currently, I am working on two grant funded projects. One focuses on reconnecting individuals with the community following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and the other aims to design an integrated care model to improve access to care for people living with chronic conditions to access care in Northern Adelaide.
Why is this work so important?
This work is important to keep older people, individuals following significant injury and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups connected with their wider communities. Lack of support networks often results in social isolation, poor quality of life and potentially early admission to residential aged care. This work is important to restore function (both cognitive and physical) to support people to connect socially and in turn improve their quality of life. As Australia’s population continues to age, these models of care will be essential to ensure the health system can sustainably meet the needs of older people, while promoting independence and quality of life.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
The implementation of the Restorative Care Pathway across Australia is an exciting step forward for in-home aged care. It presents a significant opportunity to drive meaningful change in how care is delivered, with the potential to improve outcomes for older people. Similar evidence-based guidelines will be essential to guide restorative care within residential aged care. While I am not entirely sure what the future holds, I’m motivated by the opportunity to continue contributing in this space- informing restorative care interventions, shaping policy, and ultimately improving the lives of older Australians.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
I enjoy both playing and coaching hockey at Adelaide Hockey Club. It’s been a great way to stay active when I get away from my desk!