Researchers will use almost half a million dollars in grant funding to try and improve outcomes for seniors who have undergone hip surgery.
The team is aiming to provide evidence that discharge planning for elderly patients needs to be improved following surgery.
Lead Researcher and behavioural and public health expert Rob Sanson-Fisher said one in three hip fracture patients aged over 50 were at risk of dying within 12 months.
"In elderly patients this risk is five to eight-times higher within the first three months of fracture," Laureate Professor Sanson-Fisher said.
He said patients recovering from hip surgery often had to deal with a lot of pain and reduced mobility, independence and social engagement.
"Hip fractures can be the tipping point for elderly people to move into aged care facilities and other conditions such as dementia can be exacerbated."
Professor Sanson-Fisher said all hip fracture patients should receive tailored written care plans according to Australian Hip Fracture Clinical Care Standard recommendations.
He said only 24 per cent of hospitals regularly provided written plans and the quality of plans which were provided was inconsistent.
"We want to look closely at an individual's needs and tailor a detailed plan especially for them," he said.
The team is made up of multi disciplinary experts from University of Newcastle, the Hunter Medical Research Institute and Hunter New England Health.
The team will use the funding from the National Medical Health and Research Council to investigate ways of improving quality of life and reducing the likelihood of hospital readmission for patients.
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