Date and Time

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Theme / Track

Service delivery, workforce and reform

Presentation Format

Poster Presentation
This poster demonstrates a redesigned model of care aimed at improving physical health and multimorbidity outcomes of older adults living with severe mental illness (SMI) within a Brisbane public health service. Older adults aged over 65 years with SMI experience significantly higher rates of multimorbidity, hospital emergency department presentations and prolonged physical health admissions compared to their age matched peers (Lambert et al., 2017; Lawrence et al., 2013). Additionally, older adults with SMI experience falls at 1.5-4.5 times the rate of the age-matched general population, contributing to increased health service utilisation and expenditure (Bunn et al., 2014; Finkelstein et al., 2007). In response, a targeted model of care was developed to improve physical health outcomes of older adults living with multimorbidity and SMI. Evidence-based screening, assessments and interventions are provided, through group programs, individualised care plans and brief interventions. This model of care is led by the specialist Older Adult Liaison Team of Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services comprised of Senior Exercise Physiologists, Senior Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Psychiatry Registrar, Senior Staff Specialist and Administrative Officer. Evidenced-based outcome measures are utilised to track consumer progress, such as disease-specific pathology, the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) and the Life Skills Profile (LSP-16). Physical health screening, fitness, frailty, function, quality of life, malnutrition, diet quality, mood and qualitative consumer experiences are routinely assessed to guide care planning and evaluate impact. The development and implementation of this model has improved screening and management of chronic physical health conditions of older adults with SMI living in the Brisbane South region.

Keywords

Diet / Nutrition, Falls / Fall Prevention, Mental Health, Models of Care, Quality improvement

Authors