Judy Lowthian
Biographic Data
| ID | 6181028 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Judy Lowthian |
| GIVEN NAMES | Judy |
| FAMILY NAME | Lowthian |
| SIGNATURE | LOWTHIAN J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Monash University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9780-5256 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 5 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Conceptualization and implementation of community social prescribing evaluation
Social prescribing involves trusted individuals in clinical and community settings identifying non-medical, health-related social needs and connecting people to community-based supports through a collaboratively developed social prescription. Social prescribing operates within a dynamic, complex adaptive system, making evaluation challenging. This study presents two Australian case studies of co-designed social prescribing programs— Connect Local…
Prevalence of Hearing, Vision and Cognitive Impairment and Impact in Older Adults in Home Care
BACKGROUND: Hearing, vision and cognitive impairments are common yet frequently underrecognized among older adults. Although these impairments affect quality of life, functional independence and psychological well-being, there are no published data on the prevalence and consequences of these impairments in relation to Australian home care populations. This protocol outlines a cross-sectional investigation into the prevalence of hearing, vision an…
Protocol for the Process Evaluation of the Sense‐Cog Sensory Support Intervention Field Trial to Improve Quality of Life for Older People Receiving Home Care in Australia
BACKGROUND: A field trial of a home-delivered hearing and vision support intervention will assess its impact on the quality of life and well-being of home care recipients with hearing and/or vision impairment and their care partners. AIMS: This paper outlines the protocol for a process evaluation of the field trial. The process evaluation aims to identify discrepancies between expected and actual outcomes, understand contextual influences, assess…
“Connect Local”
More robust research, however, is needed to evaluate interventions that promote social connection. This protocol paper outlines the evaluation of a community-wide social connection program, Connect Local , in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia to support people 65 years and older to increase access to local community services/activities; and to ascertain impact on social connection, loneliness, depressive symptoms, physical and mental wellbeing, a…
Symptoms of depression and risk of emergency department visits among people aged 70 years and over
This study is unique in demonstrating how depressive symptoms among healthy older persons are associated with subsequent increased use of emergency healthcare. Improved understanding and monitoring of mental health in primary care is essential to undertake effective healthcare planning including prevention of needing emergency care
Australian retirement village residents
The characteristics of Australian retirement village residents, an under-researched population, are not well understood. Knowledge of their wellbeing and modifiable factors associated with low wellbeing would aid in the introduction of health promotion measures and supports to facilitate healthy ageing-in-place. A novel approach utilising latent class analysis (LCA), a statistical method not previously employed to study this population, was under…
Ten-Year Trends and Predictors of Unplanned Hospitalisation in Community-Dwelling Older People Receiving Home-Based Care
Older people prefer to remain living in their own home for as long as possible; however, many require support to do so through health and other care services provided in the home. This study aimed to explore the trends in usage of a home-based care service by older people in metropolitan Melbourne and factors associated with unplanned hospitalisations. This longitudinal study analysed episodes of home-based care for people aged ≥65 years between …
Feasibility and acceptability of paramedic-initiated health education for rural-dwelling older people
Background: In rural and regional areas, older Australians have poorer health outcomes and higher rates of potentially preventable hospital admissions than their metropolitan counterparts. Paramedics may be uniquely placed to improve health outcomes of rural-dwelling older adults through involvement in primary and preventive healthcare, health promotion and health education. However, the feasibility and acceptability of this remains unexplored. A…
Being Your Best –an innovative, co-designed and holistic approach to frailty
The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021
Volunteer peer support frameworks supporting older women living alone
Volunteer peer support is an approach that enables a supportive connection between volunteers and a sub-set of community members with shared experiences or interests. To implement co-designed strategies to support older women to maintain independence and optimise wellbeing in Australia, a volunteer peer support approach was proposed. There was limited literature describing volunteer peer support frameworks to underpin interventions of this kind; …
Quality of life of older Australians receiving home nursing services for complex care needs
Older Australians may live up to 10 years in ill health, most likely chronic disease-related. Those with multimorbidity report more healthcare visits, poorer health and take more medications compared with people with a single chronic disease. They are also at higher risk of hospital admission and poor quality of life. People living with multimorbidity are considered to have "complex care" needs. A person-centred approach to healthcare has led to …
The barriers and enablers to service access for older women living alone in Australia
Older women living alone are at risk of being socially and financially disadvantaged, which impacts their wellbeing. Currently there is a significant gap in knowledge relating to older women living alone. This study aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to service access in this group. We undertook a qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was conducted to elucidate key…
Be Your Best
The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021
Co‐designing Being Your Best program—A holistic approach to frailty in older community dwelling Australians
Frailty is a condition characterised by increased vulnerability and decline of physical and cognitive reserves, most often affecting older people. This can lead to a cascade of repeated hospitalisations, further decline and ultimately loss of independence. Frailty and pre-frailty are modifiable; interventions such as physical exercise, cognitive training, social connection and improved nutrition, especially in a group setting, can mitigate frailt…
Interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone
The global population is ageing and the likelihood of living alone increases with age. Services are necessary to help older people living alone to optimise health and wellbeing. This systematic review aimed to summarise the effectiveness and accessibility of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone. Relevant electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched for all years up to August 2…
Using co‐creation and multi‐criteria decision analysis to close service gaps for underserved populations
BACKGROUND: Navigating treatment pathways remains a challenge for populations with complex needs due to bottlenecks, service gaps and access barriers. The application of novel methods may be required to identify and remedy such problems. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a novel approach to identifying persistent service gaps, generating potential solutions and prioritizing action. DESIGN: Co-creation and multi-criteria decision analysis in the context o…
Co‐creation of services to maintain independence and optimise well‐being
For many populations at risk of social isolation, including Older Women Living Alone (OWLA), existing services to maintain independence and optimise well-being are difficult to access, unsuitable or unavailable. Co-creation is a strategy to develop 'person-centred' services that meet the needs of individuals. We adapted an existing framework for co-creation and used participatory action research methods, supported by an evidence base comprising a…
Improvements in life expectancy among Australians due to reductions in smoking
The estimated optimum gain in life expectancy is consistent with potentially moderate gains which occur when both men and women below 60 years are targeted to reduce smoking prevalence to 10
Co‐designing Being Your Best program—A holistic approach to frailty in older community dwelling Australians
Frailty is a condition characterised by increased vulnerability and decline of physical and cognitive reserves, most often affecting older people. This can lead to a cascade of repeated hospitalisations, further decline and ultimately loss of independence. Frailty and pre-frailty are modifiable; interventions such as physical exercise, cognitive training, social connection and improved nutrition, especially in a group setting, can mitigate frailt…
Volunteer peer support frameworks supporting older women living alone
Volunteer peer support is an approach that enables a supportive connection between volunteers and a sub-set of community members with shared experiences or interests. To implement co-designed strategies to support older women to maintain independence and optimise wellbeing in Australia, a volunteer peer support approach was proposed. There was limited literature describing volunteer peer support frameworks to underpin interventions of this kind; …
Quality of life of older Australians receiving home nursing services for complex care needs
Older Australians may live up to 10 years in ill health, most likely chronic disease-related. Those with multimorbidity report more healthcare visits, poorer health and take more medications compared with people with a single chronic disease. They are also at higher risk of hospital admission and poor quality of life. People living with multimorbidity are considered to have "complex care" needs. A person-centred approach to healthcare has led to …
Co‐creation of services to maintain independence and optimise well‐being
For many populations at risk of social isolation, including Older Women Living Alone (OWLA), existing services to maintain independence and optimise well-being are difficult to access, unsuitable or unavailable. Co-creation is a strategy to develop 'person-centred' services that meet the needs of individuals. We adapted an existing framework for co-creation and used participatory action research methods, supported by an evidence base comprising a…
Improvements in life expectancy among Australians due to reductions in smoking
The estimated optimum gain in life expectancy is consistent with potentially moderate gains which occur when both men and women below 60 years are targeted to reduce smoking prevalence to 10
Using co‐creation and multi‐criteria decision analysis to close service gaps for underserved populations
BACKGROUND: Navigating treatment pathways remains a challenge for populations with complex needs due to bottlenecks, service gaps and access barriers. The application of novel methods may be required to identify and remedy such problems. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a novel approach to identifying persistent service gaps, generating potential solutions and prioritizing action. DESIGN: Co-creation and multi-criteria decision analysis in the context o…
Co‐creation of services to maintain independence and optimise well‐being
For many populations at risk of social isolation, including Older Women Living Alone (OWLA), existing services to maintain independence and optimise well-being are difficult to access, unsuitable or unavailable. Co-creation is a strategy to develop 'person-centred' services that meet the needs of individuals. We adapted an existing framework for co-creation and used participatory action research methods, supported by an evidence base comprising a…
Interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone
The global population is ageing and the likelihood of living alone increases with age. Services are necessary to help older people living alone to optimise health and wellbeing. This systematic review aimed to summarise the effectiveness and accessibility of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone. Relevant electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched for all years up to August 2…
Be Your Best
The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021
Co‐designing Being Your Best program—A holistic approach to frailty in older community dwelling Australians
Frailty is a condition characterised by increased vulnerability and decline of physical and cognitive reserves, most often affecting older people. This can lead to a cascade of repeated hospitalisations, further decline and ultimately loss of independence. Frailty and pre-frailty are modifiable; interventions such as physical exercise, cognitive training, social connection and improved nutrition, especially in a group setting, can mitigate frailt…
Feasibility and acceptability of paramedic-initiated health education for rural-dwelling older people
Background: In rural and regional areas, older Australians have poorer health outcomes and higher rates of potentially preventable hospital admissions than their metropolitan counterparts. Paramedics may be uniquely placed to improve health outcomes of rural-dwelling older adults through involvement in primary and preventive healthcare, health promotion and health education. However, the feasibility and acceptability of this remains unexplored. A…
Being Your Best –an innovative, co-designed and holistic approach to frailty
The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021
Volunteer peer support frameworks supporting older women living alone
Volunteer peer support is an approach that enables a supportive connection between volunteers and a sub-set of community members with shared experiences or interests. To implement co-designed strategies to support older women to maintain independence and optimise wellbeing in Australia, a volunteer peer support approach was proposed. There was limited literature describing volunteer peer support frameworks to underpin interventions of this kind; …
Quality of life of older Australians receiving home nursing services for complex care needs
Older Australians may live up to 10 years in ill health, most likely chronic disease-related. Those with multimorbidity report more healthcare visits, poorer health and take more medications compared with people with a single chronic disease. They are also at higher risk of hospital admission and poor quality of life. People living with multimorbidity are considered to have "complex care" needs. A person-centred approach to healthcare has led to …
The barriers and enablers to service access for older women living alone in Australia
Older women living alone are at risk of being socially and financially disadvantaged, which impacts their wellbeing. Currently there is a significant gap in knowledge relating to older women living alone. This study aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to service access in this group. We undertook a qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was conducted to elucidate key…
Ten-Year Trends and Predictors of Unplanned Hospitalisation in Community-Dwelling Older People Receiving Home-Based Care
Older people prefer to remain living in their own home for as long as possible; however, many require support to do so through health and other care services provided in the home. This study aimed to explore the trends in usage of a home-based care service by older people in metropolitan Melbourne and factors associated with unplanned hospitalisations. This longitudinal study analysed episodes of home-based care for people aged ≥65 years between …
“Connect Local”
More robust research, however, is needed to evaluate interventions that promote social connection. This protocol paper outlines the evaluation of a community-wide social connection program, Connect Local , in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia to support people 65 years and older to increase access to local community services/activities; and to ascertain impact on social connection, loneliness, depressive symptoms, physical and mental wellbeing, a…
Symptoms of depression and risk of emergency department visits among people aged 70 years and over
This study is unique in demonstrating how depressive symptoms among healthy older persons are associated with subsequent increased use of emergency healthcare. Improved understanding and monitoring of mental health in primary care is essential to undertake effective healthcare planning including prevention of needing emergency care
Australian retirement village residents
The characteristics of Australian retirement village residents, an under-researched population, are not well understood. Knowledge of their wellbeing and modifiable factors associated with low wellbeing would aid in the introduction of health promotion measures and supports to facilitate healthy ageing-in-place. A novel approach utilising latent class analysis (LCA), a statistical method not previously employed to study this population, was under…
Protocol for the Process Evaluation of the Sense‐Cog Sensory Support Intervention Field Trial to Improve Quality of Life for Older People Receiving Home Care in Australia
BACKGROUND: A field trial of a home-delivered hearing and vision support intervention will assess its impact on the quality of life and well-being of home care recipients with hearing and/or vision impairment and their care partners. AIMS: This paper outlines the protocol for a process evaluation of the field trial. The process evaluation aims to identify discrepancies between expected and actual outcomes, understand contextual influences, assess…
Conceptualization and implementation of community social prescribing evaluation
Social prescribing involves trusted individuals in clinical and community settings identifying non-medical, health-related social needs and connecting people to community-based supports through a collaboratively developed social prescription. Social prescribing operates within a dynamic, complex adaptive system, making evaluation challenging. This study presents two Australian case studies of co-designed social prescribing programs— Connect Local…
Prevalence of Hearing, Vision and Cognitive Impairment and Impact in Older Adults in Home Care
BACKGROUND: Hearing, vision and cognitive impairments are common yet frequently underrecognized among older adults. Although these impairments affect quality of life, functional independence and psychological well-being, there are no published data on the prevalence and consequences of these impairments in relation to Australian home care populations. This protocol outlines a cross-sectional investigation into the prevalence of hearing, vision an…
Medicine (14 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (9 works) · Nursing (9 works) · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes (8 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Health care (6 works) · Psychological intervention (6 works) · Demography (5 works)