Staff profile

Professor Yvonne Wells

Head of the Lincoln Centre, Professor of Aged Care Research and Policy Development

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Health Sciences Research Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing

HS2-526, Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

BA Adel, MPsych La Trobe, PhD La Trobe, MAPS, FAAG, FAPS

Membership of professional Associations

Australian Psychological Society, Australian Association of Gerontology

Area of study

Ageing and aged care

Brief Profile

 The purpose of Professor Wells' position is to establish a research agenda to inform policy development in community and residential aged care for Uniting Aged Care Victoria and Tasmania (UACVT) and to promote research on ageing at La Trobe University. To this end, she has recently been successful in securing two ARC Linkages grants. 

  • The first study (LP110100247) aims to address the expectations and needs of current and future generations of older people with regard to housing and services as they age, with an emphasis on social inclusion. It relies on a series of community consultations carried out by Uniting Aged Care and on an internet-based survey of baby boomers.
  • The second study (LP110100248) aims to establish the wellbeing outcomes for people living in a range of housing settings, including community (with services), standard retirement village, and service integrated housing. The prospective, panel study provides a unique opportunity to establish an evidence-base on the efficacy of a range of services to assist older people to remain living in the community.

Other recent research projects include:

  • Principal Investigator on the Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA) project, funded by an ARC Linkages grant
  • Principal Investigator on the Care for Survivors of Genocide and Mass Trauma project, funded by a Wicking grant
  • Associate Investigator on the Care Pathways project, led by AIHW and funded by NHMRC.

Research interests

Dementia

- Caregiving in culturally and linguistically diverse communities

Healthy Ageing

- Impacts of life choices on wellbeing in later life

Residential Care

- Making a residence into a home

Teaching Units

I teach in the Postgraduate courses in Gerontology

Consulting

I am heavily involved in consultancy activities for a range of organisations, including the Victorian Department of Health, the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, and Southern Health.

Recent Publications

 Kendig, H., Wells, Y., O'Loughlin, K., & Heese, K. (accepted May 2012). Australian baby boomers face retirement during the global financial crisis. Journal of Aging and Social Policy.  

Teshuva, K., & Wells, Y. (accepted 2011).Caring for older survivors of genocide. Ageing & Society.  

Wells, Y. (2012). Commentary: Older Australians and hospital care. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 31, 2-5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00595.x  

Howe, A., King, D., Ellis, J., Wells, Y., Wei, Z., & Teshuva, K. (accepted June 2011).  Stabilising the aged care workforce: An analysis of worker retention and intention. Australian Health Review. 36, 83–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AH11009.

Stephens, D., Wells, Y., & Gardner, I. (2011).  Approving for a Community Aged Care package: Experiences and perceptions of 6 metropolitan Aged Care Assessment Service Teams. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 30, 77-81.  

McIntosh, J., Smyth, B., Kelaher, M., Wells, Y., & Long. C. (2011). Post separation parenting arrangements: Patterns and developmental outcomes. Family Matters, 86, 40–48.  

Tang, J., Ryburn, B., Doyle, C., & Wells, Y. (2010). The psychology of respite care for people with dementia in Australia. Australian Psychologist. Article first published online: 15 March 2011, DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-9544.2010.00005.x

Kendig, H., Browning, C., Pedlow, R., Wells, Y., & Thomas, S. (2010). Health, social, and life style predictors of entry to residential aged care facilities: An Australian longitudinal analysis. Age and Ageing, 39, 342-349.  

Humpel, N., O’Loughlin, K., Wells, Y., & Kendig, H. (2010). Ageing baby boomers in Australia: Evidence informing actions for better retirement. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 44, 399-415.  

Humpel, N., O’Loughlin, K., Wells, Y., & Kendig, H. (2010). The health of Australian baby boomers. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 29, 8-13.    

Karmel, R., Anderson, P., Gibson, D., Peut, A., Duckett, S., & Wells, Y. (2010). Empirical aspects of record linkage across multiple data sets using statistical linkage keys: the experience of the PIAC cohort study. BMC Health Services Research. Impact factor 1.68. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 1)  

Wells, Y., de Vaus, D., Kendig, H., & Quine, S. (2009). Health and wellbeing through work and retirement transitions in mature age: Understanding pre-post and retrospective measures of change. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 69, 287-310.  

Foreman, P., Wells, Y., & Ryburn, B. (2009). In Community care for older Australians: Issues and future directions, 3rd edition, R. Nay and S. Garrett. Melbourne: Churchill Livingstone.  

Ryburn, B., Wells, Y., & Foreman, P. (2009). Enabling independence: Restorative home care provision for frail older adults, Journal of Health and Social Care in the Community, 17, 225-234.  (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 1)

 Wells, Y., de Vaus, D., Kendig, H., & Quine, S. Health and wellbeing through retirement: Understanding pre-post and retrospective measures of change. (2009). International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 69, 287-310.

Foreman, P., Wells, Y., & Ryburn, B. (2009). In Community care for older Australians: Issues and future directions, 3rd edition, R. Nay and S. Garrett. Melbourne: Churchill Livingstone. Ryburn, B., Wells, Y., & Foreman, P. (2009).

Wells, Y. D., Petralia, W., de Vaus, D., & Kendig, H. (2008). Recruitment for a panel study of Australian retirees. In Selecting Research Methods, Vol 2, W Paul Vogt (Ed.). London: Sage. SAGE Benchmarks in social Research Methods series. ISBN: 9781847871800.

Wells, Y. (2008). The APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group.  InPsych, 30, 18.

Someya, Y., & Wells, Y. (2008). Current issues on ageing in Japan: A comparison with Australia. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27, 1, 8-13.

McIntosh, J. E., Wells, Y. D., Long, C. M., & Smyth, B. M. (2008). Child Focused and Child Inclusive divorce mediation. Comparative outcomes from a prospective study of post-separation adjustment. Family Court Review, 46, 105-124.

Unsworth, C. A., Wells, Y., Browning, C., Kendig, H., & Thomas, S. A. (2007). To continue, modify or relinquish driving: Findings from a longitudinal study of healthy ageing. Gerontology: International Journal of Experimental, Clinical and Behavioral Gerontology, 53, 423- 431.

Quine, S. Wells, Y., de Vaus, D., & Kendig, H. (2007). When choice in retirement decisions is missing: Qualitative and quantitative findings of impact on wellbeing. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 26, 173-179.

McIntosh, J. E., Wells, Y. D., & Long, C. M. (2007). Child-focused and child-inclusive Family Law dispute resolution: One year findings from a prospective study of outcomes. Journal of Family Studies, 13, 8-25.

De Vaus, D., Wells, Y., Kendig, H., & Quine, S. (2007). Does gradual retirement have better outcomes than abrupt retirement? Results from an Australian panel study. Ageing & Society, 27 (5), 667-682.

Browning, C., Wells, Y., & Joyce, A. (2005). The experience of ageing: Influences on mental health and well-being. In V. Minichiello & I. Coulson, (Eds.) Contemporary Issues in Gerontology: Promoting Positive Ageing. Sydney: Allen and Unwin and Routledge.

Wells, Y. (2005). Research and practice with older adults: The picture in Australia. Australian Psychologist, 40(1), 2-7.

de Vaus, D., & Wells, Y. (2004). What should mature-age workers do to promote health and wellbeing in retirement? Health Issues, 80, 23-26.

Wells, Y., Foreman, P., Gething, L., & Petralia, W. (2004). Nurses' attitudes towards ageing and older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 30 (9), 5-13.

Merkes, M., & Wells, Y. (2003). Women of the baby boom generation and unpaid work - What are the indications for the future? Australasian Journal on Ageing, 22(4), 186-190.

Gething, L., Gridley, H., Browning, C., Helmes, E., Luszcz, M., Turner, J., Ward, L., & Wells, Y. (2003). The role of psychologists in fostering the wellbeing of older Australians. Australian Psychologist, 38(1), 1-10.

Wells, Y. D., Petralia, W., de Vaus, D., & Kendig, H. (2003). Recruitment for a panel study of Australian retirees: Issues in recruiting from rare and nonenumerated populations. Research on Aging, 25(1), 36-64.

Wells, Y. D., & de Vaus, D. (2003). Work stress and caregiver stress. In C. Petersen (ed.), Work Stress: Studies of the context, content and outcomes of stress. Amityville, New York: Baywood.

de Vaus, D., & Wells, Y. D. (2003). Stress among older workers and retirees. In C. Petersen (ed.), Work Stress: Studies of the context, content and outcomes of stress. Amityville, New York: Baywood.

Wells, Y. D. (2002). Life transitions: Retirement and widowhood. In C. J. Browning (Ed.), Foundation studies in gerontology: Distance education materials. Melbourne: Australian Institute for Primary Care, La Trobe University.

Wells, Y. D. (2002). Life transitions: Caregiving. In C. J. Browning (Ed.), Foundation studies in gerontology: Distance education materials. Melbourne: Australian Institute for Primary Care, La Trobe University

Wells, Y. D., & Browning, C. (2002). Widowhood. In L. Breslow (Editor in chief), Encyclopedia of Public Health, pp. 1311-1313.

New York: Macmillan. . Wells, Y., & Johnson, T. M. (2001). Impact of parental divorce on willingness of young adults to provide care to parents in the future. Journal of Family Studies, 7, 160-170.

Older Publications

Wells, Y., & Johnson, T. M. (2001). Impact of parental divorce on willingness of young adults to provide care to parents in the future. Journal of Family Studies, 7, 160-170.

  Wells, Y., & Rodi, H. (2000). Effects of pet ownership on the health and well-being of older people. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 19, 143-148.  

Wells, Y. (1999). Intentions to care for a spouse: Gender differences in anticipated willingness to care and expected burden. Journal of Family Studies, 5, 220-234.  

Kendig, H., Wells, Y., Swerissen, H., & Reynolds, A. (1999). Costs of community care services for individuals with complex needs. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 18, 86-92.  

Wells, Y., Kendig, H., & Swerissen, H. (1999). Client outcomes in case managed care: Who benefits most? Australasian Journal on Ageing, 18, 79-85. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 1)  

Wells, Y., & Kendig, H. (1999). Psychological resources and successful retirement. Australian Psychologist, 34, 111-115. 

Wells, Y. (1998). Life transitions: Retirement and widowhood. In Foundation Studies in Gerontology. Melbourne: School of Nursing, La Trobe University.  

Wells, Y. (1998). Life transitions: Caregiving. In Foundation Studies in Gerontology. Melbourne: School of Nursing, La Trobe University.

Kendig, H., Browning, C., & Wells, Y. (1998). Australian research on ageing, families, and health promotion. The Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 11, 169-183.  

Wells, Y., & Over, R. (1998). Institutional placement of a dementing spouse: The influence of appraisal, coping strategies, and social support. Australian Journal of Psychology, 50, 100-105. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 3)  

Wells, Y., & Stacey, B. (1998). Gender differences in depressive symptoms among older people living in the community. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 17, 193-195. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 1)  

Wells, Y., & Kendig, H. (1997). Health and well-being of spouse caregivers and widows. The Gerontologist, 37, 666-674. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 30)  

Wells, Y., & Kendig, H. (1996). Changes in carers' capacity and motivation to provide care. Journal of Family Studies, 2, 15-28.  

Wells, Y., & Over, R. (1994). Willingness to provide spousal care if needed in the future. Australian Journal of Marriage and the Family, 15, 76-85.  

Wells, Y., Jorm, A. F., Jordan, F., & Le Froy, R. (1990). Effects on caregivers of special day care programs for dementia sufferers. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 24, 82-90. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 22)  

Wells, Y., & Jorm, A. F. (1989). The role of the dementia unit in the nursing home. Geriatric Medicine Today, 8, 110-115.  

Wells, Y., & Jorm, A. F. (1987). Evaluation of a special nursing home unit for dementia sufferers: Controlled comparison with community care. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 21, 524-531. (Web of Knowledge; citations as of 21/3/2011: 48)

Research projects

ARC Linkages LP110100248 My place for life: Impact on quality of life, social inclusion, and entry to residential care CIs: Y Wells, H Kendig, R Nay, A Street Partner Organisation: Uniting Aged Care Victoria & Tasmania Amount granted: $288,816  over 4 years, supplemented by funding from UACVT and La Trobe University Faculty of Health Sciences  

ARC Linkages LP110100247 Transforming the experiences of ageing: The ABCD of building socially inclusive communities CIs: Y Wells, C Laragy, E Ozanne Partner Organisation: Uniting Aged Care Victoria & Tasmania Amount granted: $83,072 over 2 years supplemented by funding from UACVT and La Trobe University Faculty of Health Sciences