Housing and Support Needs and Preferences of People with MS

Professor Jacinta Douglas

Summer Foundation and La Trobe University, VIC

| Better treatments | Social And Applied Research | Incubator | 2023 | Investigator Led Research |
SUPPORT PROJECTS WITH THIS RESEARCH FOCUS

Summary

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged 18-85 are at risk of long hospitalisations and admission to Residential Aged Care (RAC) as the disease progresses. Due to the progressive and often unpredictable nature of MS, housing and support needs and preferences for this population differ from those with non-progressive disability. Despite this, little is currently known about how hospitals, disability funding bodies and housing providers can best support people with MS to live in appropriate housing and avoid admission to RAC.  

The proposed study will be the first to combine detailed data on the housing and support needs and preferences of people with MS, as well as provide valuable insights into the barriers, facilitators and opportunities for people with MS to live where and with whom they wish to live.  

This data will provide valuable insights into hospital processes, funding decisions and housing design, and how this may impact on people with MS; whether they are able to live in age-appropriate housing that meets their needs or are forced to live in inappropriate settings such as RAC or group homes.  

Extracting, integrating and interpreting this data will inform a co-designed intervention to improve housing and support outcomes for people with MS that will form the basis for a future grant application. This evidence base will also be used to build the capacity of allied health professionals and support coordinators, and influence policy. 

Updated: 22 February, 2023

Stages of the research process

Fundamental laboratory
Research

Laboratory research that investigates scientific theories behind the possible causes, disease progression, ways to diagnose and better treat MS.

Lab to clinic timeline: 10+ years
Translational
Research

Research that builds on fundamental scientific research to develop new therapies, medical procedures or diagnostics and advances it closer to the clinic.

Lab to clinic timeline: 5+ years
Clinical Studies
and Clinical Trials

Clinical research is the culmination of fundamental and translational research turning those research discoveries into treatments and interventions for people with MS.

Lab to clinic timeline: 1-5 years

Investigator

Grant Awarded

Incubator Grant 

Total Funding

  • $25,000

Duration

  • 1 year – starting 2023

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Ms Alice Saul

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Housing and Support Needs and Preferences of People with MS