World-First mental health pilot delivers breakthrough results for older Australians
Last updated on 1 April 2025
A groundbreaking pilot program aimed at tackling depression and anxiety among older Australians receiving home care services has yielded promising results, reinforcing the urgent need for mental health support within aged care services.
In-home care specialist Silverchain, in collaboration with leading academic and industry partners, trialled the Enhanced Management of home-Based Elders with Depression (EMBED) program in Victoria throughout 2024.
The initiative focused on improving the detection and treatment of mental health conditions among older Australians receiving in-home care.
The pilot’s findings, unveiled at the ARC APAC Summit in Melbourne, highlighted the program’s significant impact:
- Improved mental health outcomes – There was a significant reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety among participants following treatment as 86% of participants reported improved mood, motivation, and overall well-being
- High client satisfaction – 95% of participants rated the program as “good” or “excellent,” with strong calls for expansion
- Workforce training success – 90% of Silverchain’s care team found the EMBED training beneficial, boosting their confidence in identifying and supporting clients with depression
These findings follow hot on the footsteps of a Silverchain-led study that was published in February’s Australian Journal on Ageing. The study found that over 60% of older Australians receiving aged care services in the home have symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Younger age, lower quality of life, higher loneliness, living in a major city (compared with rural/remote areas) and living with family (compared to living alone) were associated with higher levels of depression or anxiety symptoms in the cohort studied.
The findings align with Census data reporting that the likelihood of
being diagnosed with a mental health condition increases notably for Australians aged in their 80s and 90s.
Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison, Silverchain’s Director of Research Discovery and lead investigator, emphasised the significance of the findings.
“Depression and anxiety are a significant issue for older Australians that are largely unaddressed,” Adj Prof Davison said.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from both our care teams and our clients demonstrates the urgent need for mental health integration within home care services.”
As part of the pilot, Silverchain trained over 1,000 of its aged care workers so they could better identify the need for mental health support for their clients. It also introduced routine mental health screening and provided
evidence-based treatments to clients.
Results showed high levels of engagement and positive clinical outcomes.
The EMBED model includes video consultations with psychologists, therapeutic resources, and interactive tools, tailored to meet the needs of older Australians.
Its success in Victoria has prompted a larger-scale rollout in Western Australia and South Australia, involving 880 aged care clients. Results from this extended trial are expected by late 2026.
Silverchain Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Dale Fisher AM stressed the importance of addressing mental health needs alongside physical care.
“With one million Australians receiving aged care at home and the accelerating demand from the community to age at home, we must ensure as a sector we are attuned to every health need, not just physical health
care,” Adj Prof Fisher said.
“To address this gap in mental health care, we have developed an innovative model of care to improve the detection and treatment of depression in older Australians receiving aged care in the home.
“Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in health and aged care in Australia and EMBED allows older Australians to receive high-quality mental health care.”
Silverchain’s research has also influenced Australian Government policy, leading to the inclusion of mental health care in the upcoming Support at Home program.
Partly funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA), the EMBED program was developed in collaboration with Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology, and Flinders University.
“This model of care is a game-changer for older people’s health and wellbeing. By integrating mental health care into routine home care services, we are addressing a critical gap in the system and ensuring that older Australians receive the support they need to age well at home,” Adj Prof Davison added.