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Dr Theresa Scott

Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
theresa.scott@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56723

Overview

Dr. Theresa Scott, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Geropsychology and former NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow, brings a depth of experience and knowledge in researching functional outcomes for older individuals and those living with dementia in both community and residential aged care settings. Notably, her NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowship examined the complex issues surrounding dementia and driving, with the goal of translating a comprehensive support- and education-based driving cessation intervention for older people (CarFreeMe) for individuals with dementia and their care partners.

Building upon her previous successes, Theresa's research group has recently secured an NHMRC MRFF grant, enabling them to collaborate with key stakeholders in developing essential educational resources and tools for managing driving safety assessment with persons with dementia. Among these tools is a video-based off-road fitness to drive test, specifically designed to eliminate existing barriers and enhance the management of dementia and driving within primary care settings. This ground-breaking initiative aims to benefit practitioners and individuals with dementia alike, ensuring the utmost care and support in this critical area.

Theresa's research expertise encompasses both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and evaluation research. Her approach embraces participatory research and co-design, actively involving individuals with lived experiences as experts in the field. In addition to her impactful work on dementia and driving, her diverse research portfolio addresses vital topics such as ageism and dementia stigma prevention, psychosocial interventions for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, as well as the therapeutic benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture in combating loneliness, isolation, and depression.

Research Interests

  • Dementia
    Quality of life; Mobility; Driving; Fitness to drive assessment; Social support; Addressing stigma; Supporting communication within families; Engagement
  • Ageing
    Ageism; Stigma and Self-stereotypes; Positive ageing; Psychosocial interventions to support ageing well
  • Evidence-based therapies
    Social and therapeutic horticulture; Reminiscence therapy; Music therapy; Animal-assisted therapy

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate in Research Methods (Soc Sc), The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours 2A), The University of Queensland

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

  • An investigation of post diagnosis support for people living with dementia and their informal carers, and the effects of affiliate stigma on their quality of life

    Doctor Philosophy

  • Mindful and compassionate nature connection to increase the well-being of family members caring for people living with dementia

    Doctor Philosophy

  • Co-residence with Children, Are Older People Happy?

    Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • Delivering critical resources for primary care management of driving in patients with dementia

    This Earmarked Scholarship project is aligned with a recently awarded Category 1 research grant. It offers you the opportunity to work with leading researchers and contribute to large projects of national significance.

    General practitioners (GPs) identify changes in cognitive functioning and are tasked with monitoring driver safety in their patients with dementia. It is presently a poorly resourced area of primary care, lacking in objective tests and clear guidelines. We have convened a multidisciplinary team of research leaders with expertise in dementia, driving, and primary care practice research to support the PhD candidate through our Medical Research Future Fund trial. The focus of the PhD can take a number of directions related to this trial, including (i) co-design of resources with health practitioners and consumers, (ii) protocols for primary care practice delivery of our innovative online driver safety assessment, (iii) implementation design, etc., depending upon the skills and interests of the candidate.

  • Topics in Ageing: Mobility, Quality of life; Dementia + Quality of life, Stigma, Communication; Therapies

    Please also please contact me if you have other RHD project ideas that you would like to discuss around topics related to:

    Ageing, Health related Quality of Life; therapies. Dementia; Driving and driving cessation (e.g. Individual and family member coping). Dementia and Stigma; (e.g. effects on loneliness, disclosure; interventions to address stigma). Dementia and Communication (e.g. couples, family members).

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Driving and community mobility for people living with dementia

    Scott, Theresa, Liddle, Jacki and Pachana, Nancy A. (2021). Driving and community mobility for people living with dementia. Dementia rehabilitation: evidence-based interventions and clinical recommendations. (pp. 129-147) edited by Lee-Fay Low and Kate Laver. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818685-5.00008-8

  • Transport modes and an aging society

    Musselwhite, Charles B.A. and Scott, Theresa (2021). Transport modes and an aging society. International Encyclopedia of Transportation. (pp. 6-12) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-102671-7.10398-7

  • Therapeutic gardens and expressive therapies

    Scott, Theresa L. and Pachana, Nancy A. (2016). Therapeutic gardens and expressive therapies. Complementary, alternative, and integrative interventions for mental health and aging: research and practice. (pp. 529-546) New York , NY, United States: Oxford Univerisity Press.

  • Horticultural therapy

    Scott, Theresa L. (2015). Horticultural therapy. Encyclopedia of geropsychology. (pp. 1-5) edited by Nancy A. Pachana. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_268-1

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • An investigation of post diagnosis support for people living with dementia and their informal carers, and the effects of affiliate stigma on their quality of life

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Mindful and compassionate nature connection to increase the well-being of family members caring for people living with dementia

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Co-residence with Children, Are Older People Happy?

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Mathematically modelling the process of managing fitness to drive for people living with dementia

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Exploring the role of institutional and work design factors on the facilitation of anomie in residential aged care

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Occupational Therapy in the Residential Aged Care Setting: The Occupational Therapists Role and Service Delivery in Australia

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Delivering critical resources for primary care management of driving in patients with dementia

    This Earmarked Scholarship project is aligned with a recently awarded Category 1 research grant. It offers you the opportunity to work with leading researchers and contribute to large projects of national significance.

    General practitioners (GPs) identify changes in cognitive functioning and are tasked with monitoring driver safety in their patients with dementia. It is presently a poorly resourced area of primary care, lacking in objective tests and clear guidelines. We have convened a multidisciplinary team of research leaders with expertise in dementia, driving, and primary care practice research to support the PhD candidate through our Medical Research Future Fund trial. The focus of the PhD can take a number of directions related to this trial, including (i) co-design of resources with health practitioners and consumers, (ii) protocols for primary care practice delivery of our innovative online driver safety assessment, (iii) implementation design, etc., depending upon the skills and interests of the candidate.

  • Topics in Ageing: Mobility, Quality of life; Dementia + Quality of life, Stigma, Communication; Therapies

    Please also please contact me if you have other RHD project ideas that you would like to discuss around topics related to:

    Ageing, Health related Quality of Life; therapies. Dementia; Driving and driving cessation (e.g. Individual and family member coping). Dementia and Stigma; (e.g. effects on loneliness, disclosure; interventions to address stigma). Dementia and Communication (e.g. couples, family members).

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Social and therapeutic gardening, horticultural therapy and dementia, Dementia and driving cessation

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: C-8791-2016

ORCID: 0000-0002-6434-7121

Scopus ID: 26540141600

Google Scholar ID: B6T73EYAAAAJ

Personal Profile: Link

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