A primary care screening tool to detect, prevent and treat mental health issues for older Australians

This project aims to develop a novel primary care screening tool, Ageing Well tool, to detect risk for dementia and risks to ageing well in older adults (aged 65+). Routine screening in primary care can reduce the under-detection and undertreatment of older adult mental disorders, as well as identify early risk factors for poor mental health, including loneliness, social isolation, and low social activity. This tool will couple results from the Ageing Well tool with recommended interventions, increasing access to evidence-based interventions. It will also allow early detection and intervention for risk factors to help prevent mental disorders in this vulnerable age-group. This tool will be developed in consultation with older patients, clinicians and researchers to ensure its acceptability and feasibility for wider, sustained use. We will evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of this screening tool in a clinical trial in GP practices in Primary Health Networks.