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Partnerships between schools, universities, and community organizations have mutual benefits for all involved. These partnerships value the contributions of all participants and capitalize on the expertise and knowledge that each brings. This reflective paper details a collaborative third-space partnership between a university, a primary school, and a community organization. The partnership facilitated the design, development, and implementation of a unique program called Project DARE (Dementia knowledge, Art, Research, and Education). A research-based evaluation of the Project DARE feasibility study can be found elsewhere (Burns et al., 2020). The aim of this paper is to reflect upon the formation of the partnership and the roles that each party played. It also discusses implications for the future development of third-space partnerships.

Background: Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome associated with physical, psychological and social changes. There is a paucity of research on frailty in Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, especially Ethiopia. Objectives: To assess the initial correlations among frailty, nutritional status, depression and QOL (quality of life) in a group of older people in Ethiopia who are later enrolled in a study examining the effects of a nurse‐led community intervention on frailty and related health outcomes. Methods: Data from 68 community‐dwelling individuals 60 years of age, or over, were collected. Frailty was measured using the Amharic version of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator. The statistical analysis included Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for degrees of association, Mann–Whitney U‐test for variables with two categories and Kruskal–Wallis for variables with three or more categories. Results: The mean frailty score for participants was 7.3 (±1.9). Participants with higher frailty scores had lower nutritional status (rs = −0.46, p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant relationship (positive) between frailty scores and depression (rs = 0.39, p < 0.01). Depressed (Md = 9, n = 23) and non‐depressed frail older people (Md = 7, n = 45) showed a significant difference in their overall frailty score, U = 330.50, z = −2.49, p = 0.01, r = 0.30. There was an inverse significant association between the level of frailty across different domains in the QOL: physical (rs = −0.44, p < 0.01), psychological (rs = −0.45, p < 0.01), social relations (rs = −0.29, p < 0.05) and environmental (rs = −0.47, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings from this study were consistent with those from across middle‐income and high‐income countries. Implications for Practice: This research indicates that older people living in communities who are identified as frail often suffer from a poor nutritional status, depression and reduced QOL. It suggests that healthcare professionals in Sub‐Saharan countries would benefit from recognising the frailty in this population, and developing interventions aimed at enhancing nutrition, mental health and overall well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Background Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion and implications for nursing and health policy To explore the experience of registered nurses and their mentors in the implementation of the Gerontological Nursing Competencies in long‐term aged care and the perceived effectiveness and suitability of the programme to support nurse development.The global population is ageing and needs a reliable aged‐care nursing workforce.Opportunities for education and mentorship for newly qualified and experienced aged‐care nurses warrant investigation.Qualitative evaluation using semi‐structured focus groups was conducted following the implementation of the programme into five not‐for‐profit long‐term aged‐care organisations and analysed by a reflexive qualitative thematic approach and reported according to COREQ criteria.A total of 21 nurses (7 mentors and 14 mentees) participated in six focus groups. Five themes were generated: (1) nurses gained confidence and competence through the programme; (2) the facilitation of suitable mentoring activities and approaches was crucial to success; (3) the programme helps nurses recognise gerontology as a specialty; (4) the programme contributes to building a strategy of recruitment/retention/quality improvement in the sector; (5) barriers, challenges, changes and recommendations were identified.The Gerontological Nursing Competency model, which combined adaptive mentoring supported by reflective practice embedded in a gerontological nursing competencies framework, was perceived to improve nurse confidence and competence to lead and improve nursing standards of care.The evidence‐based competencies are an acceptable and effective method for supporting gerontological nurse development. Expansion of, and accessibility to, the programme may aid global responses to aged‐care reform, by building the recognition of gerontological nursing as a specialty and contributing towards recruitment, retention and quality care improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In older people undergoing surgery, there is a lower tolerance for complications. This highlights the need for documented clinical practices on proper prevention, pre‐screening and management of complications such as postoperative delirium (POD). Evidence‐based clinical practice guidelines exist for delirium management; however, the management of delirium in clinical settings differs widely. Objective: This study aims to develop an understanding of the knowledge, components of self‐efficacy (confidence/competence), and clinical practice related to POD care among preoperative and recovery nurses across different types of geographical locations in Australia. Design: A 27‐item online survey was sent out to professional associations focused on perioperative care across Australia. The participants included practicing registered nurses specialising in perioperative care. The main outcome measures were Knowledge, confidence/competence and clinical practice relating to POD care in older patients. Findings: Respondents were categorised into two groups—major cities and rural and remote. Mean age was 46.3 years for respondents in Australian major cities and 49.5 for the comparison group. There was a statistically significant difference between Australian major cities and 'rural and remote' in confidence in detecting hyperactive delirium, 25.2% versus 11.7% respectively as well as managing hyperactive delirium, 13.8% versus 1.7%, respectively. Similar results were also observed on hypoactive delirium. Respondents from both groups did not mirror the ideal situation in managing a hyperactive delirium. Discussion: Results from this study are inconclusive and there is no clear‐cut observation in clinical practice or knowledge between the two geographical categories in this study. Conclusion: The absence of a distinct strategy with POD prevention highlights the need for a uniform approach and consensus on POD prevention and management in older people. This can be achieved by creating more awareness and education through professional development related to POD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eyecare professionals assess older adults against the vision requirements for driving and discuss this with them on a regular basis. Improved access to resources/training would be beneficial and help eyecare professionals navigate more difficult conversations about driving, e.g., following acute vision changes. The numbers of drivers aged >65 years is increasing in many countries, in line with ageing populations. In most countries the onus is on the driver to self-monitor their vision for driving, by engaging in regular eye tests. Eyecare professionals therefore could play an important role in older driver decision-making about their fitness to drive. There is limited guidance for eyecare professionals regarding how to approach conversations with older drivers about their vision, and when these conversations should be had. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eyecare professionals involved in vision assessments and decision-making about medical fitness to drive for older adults (optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmologists). Framework analysis identified challenges and facilitators to conversations with older drivers about vision. Twenty-six eyecare professionals from Australia (n = 17) and England (n = 9) participated from urban and regional/rural areas. Themes were divided into facilitators (clear standards and comprehensive testing; positive approach; preparation and patient self-awareness; relationships and trust; importance of multiple options in guiding a transition to driving retirement) and challenges (acute loss of visual function; limited self-awareness of the impact of visual problems on driving; and perceived lack of resources and need for training). Eyecare professionals prefer to have early and regular conversations with older adults about their vision for driving. Acute visual field/acuity loss or onset of double vision, necessitating rapid changes to driving behaviour, were both identified as major challenges for eyecare professionals. Improved access to resources and training would be beneficial, to help eyecare professionals navigate these especially difficult conversations and signpost older drivers to appropriate support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]