Evaluation of a Residential In-Reach Program in Regional and Rural Australia

Launched by MONASH UNIVERSITY · Mar 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a program called Residential In-Reach (RIR) that aims to provide better care for older adults living in residential aged care homes (RACH) in rural and regional areas of Australia. The goal of the program is to help these residents receive the medical care they need without having to go to the hospital, which can be stressful and disruptive. The trial will evaluate how well the RIR program works and how much it costs by comparing outcomes in facilities over time as the program is gradually introduced.

To be eligible for this trial, health services with emergency departments that admit residents from RACHs can participate, along with RACHs that currently do not have access to RIR programs. Staff at these facilities, residents who have used the RIR service, and their family members can also take part. Participants can expect to help researchers understand how effective the RIR program is at reducing trips to the hospital and identify any challenges or benefits of implementing this program in their communities. This study is important as it aims to improve care for older adults living in rural areas, where healthcare access can be more limited.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Health services that have emergency departments and/or emergency care centres that admit residents from residential aged care homes (RACH)
• • RACHs that do not currently have access to RIR programs
• • health service staff who have been involved with the set-up and delivery of the RIR program,
• • RACH staff who have experience of or accessing the RIR service for residents at least once,
• • residents living at a RACH who has experienced receiving medical care from the RIR program and can provide informed consent, or a family member of the resident,
• • general practitioners whose case load includes residents from RACHs.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • • RACHs that already have access to a RIR program will be excluded