For many older Australians, ageing well is not just about living longer — it is about maintaining independence, confidence, and the ability to engage in meaningful daily activities.
Recent research published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology highlights a promising approach: multidisciplinary allied health reablement.
Aged care residents who participated in the REABLE trial, a model of care focused on reablement and allied health collaboration, demonstrated measurable improvements in:
- Physical strength
- Mobility and balance
- Engagement in daily meaningful activities
- Overall quality of life
This study provides strong evidence that when allied health professionals work together — rather than in isolation — older adults achieve better outcomes.
What Is a Reablement Model of Care?
Reablement is a person-focused approach that supports older adults to regain or maintain physical function, rather than becoming dependent on services.
Unlike traditional aged care models, which may assume decline is inevitable, reablement asks:
“What can the person still do — and how can we support them to do more?”
Reablement encourages independence through a coordinated approach involving multiple allied health disciplines, such as:
|
Allied Health Profession |
Contribution to reablement |
|
Physiotherapy |
Builds strength and mobility |
|
Occupational Therapy |
Supports meaningful daily activities |
|
Speech Pathology |
Maintains communication and swallowing function |
|
Dietetics |
Optimises nutrition for energy and strength |
|
Psychology / Social Work |
Addresses emotional resilience and motivation |
When these disciplines work as a team, older adults benefit from a well-rounded, individualised plan.
What Did the REABLE Trial Show?
The REABLE trial involved aged care residents receiving care from a multidisciplinary allied health team.
The results were powerful.
🟩 Key outcomes reported:
|
Outcome |
Result |
|
Increased physical strength |
Residents became stronger and more stable |
|
Improved quality of life |
Higher engagement, motivation, and daily activity |
|
Reduced frailty levels |
Better resilience and functional capacity |
|
More confidence |
Residents felt more capable and less fearful of falling |
This research challenges outdated assumptions that aged care residents will naturally decline.
The evidence shows:
With the right support, older people can regain ability — not just lose it.
Why Multidisciplinary Collaboration Works
Ageing is complex.
No single discipline can meet every need.
A multidisciplinary allied health approach works because it brings together different lenses, expertise, and strategies, all focused on the same goal:
Helping older adults live with independence and purpose.
This collaboration also enhances problem-solving — for example:
- A physiotherapist may improve mobility
- An occupational therapist may modify the environment
- A social worker may motivate the person to re-engage socially
Together, they treat the whole person, not just the diagnosis.
Benefits for Residents and Aged Care Staff
The REABLE research revealed that benefits extended beyond residents:
- Allied health professionals reported greater job satisfaction
- Team collaboration reduced feelings of burnout
- Staff felt more purposeful seeing resident improvements
When older adults thrive, the people supporting them thrive too.
Why This Matters for Families Choosing an Aged Care Provider
Not all aged care providers invest in reablement or multidisciplinary care models.
Some still operate under “maintenance” or “decline management” care models.
Families should be able to ask providers:
- Do you offer reablement-focused allied health?
- Will my loved one receive support from multiple disciplines?
- Are care plans designed to build independence — not just manage decline?
A good provider should prioritise function, purpose, and dignity.
Reablement Supports the Right to Live With Purpose
Reablement isn’t just therapy — it’s a mindset.
It reframes aged care from:
“What can’t they do anymore?”
to
“How can we help them keep doing what matters most?”
For many older adults, small gains — walking to the dining room, getting dressed independently, gardening again — restore confidence, identity, and joy.
🤝 SSCA Can Help
At Support Services Connect Australia (SSCA), we know that choosing the right aged care provider can be stressful and confusing.
Especially when you want a provider that supports independence, reablement, and emotional wellbeing.
Our care finding service is 100% free.
We help older Australians and their families:
- Understand aged care options
- Compare providers
- Choose a provider that aligns with their goals and values
📍 Based in Melbourne
💬 We speak in simple, easy-to-understand language
💡 You remain in control — we guide the process
👉 Reach out if you would like free care finding support.