About Ageing Wisely Online
Ageing Wisely Online is a psychological treatment program that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (also called CBT). This program is specifically designed for older adults (aged 65 years and older) who may experience worry, anxiety or low mood. This program teaches people how to manage these feelings by learning to change the way they think, and the behaviours that maintain depression and anxiety.
The Ageing Wisely face-to-face program was developed by our team at Macquarie University, and has more than 10 years of research showing its effectiveness for reducing anxiety and depression in older adults. Our team has adapted the original face-to-face program into Ageing Wisely Online in order to allow older adults to be able to access evidence-based treatment from home.
The program contains 10 modules that are designed to teach you skills to manage your worry, anxiety or low mood. Modules include instructional videos, interactive activities and examples about how other older people have used these skills to improve their wellbeing. Each module takes around 30-60minutes to complete. The program is designed to be supported by regular brief phone calls with a trained therapist to help you to apply the skills to your own life circumstances.
This program is currently available at no cost as part of a research trial co-sponsored by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Beyond Blue. For more information about accessing this program, please contact us on (02) 9850 8715 or ageingwisely@mq.edu.au.
Citation
Johnco, C., Meuldijk, D., Rapee, R.M., Chen, J., & Wuthrich, V.M. (2020). Ageing Wisely online: an online cognitive behavioural therapy program for managing low mood and worry in older adults. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
About the Team
Viviana Wuthrich, is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University. She is also the Director of the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre. Professor Wuthrich developed the original Ageing Wisely program, and all its adaptations and evaluations.
Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee
Professor Ron Rapee is a Professor of Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University, and the Founding Director of the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health). He has been involved in the evaluation of various versions of the Ageing Wisely program.
Associate Professor Carly Johnco
Associate Professor Carly Johnco is a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University. She is also the Deputy Director of the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research. Associate Professor Johnco led the development of the Ageing Wisely Online Program, and has co-authored several face-to-face versions of Ageing Wisely.
About the Actors
“Deidre” - Noeline Brown
Noeline has worked extensively in theatre, film, radio and television since 1960, and was award a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020 for her services to the entertainment industry. She has received numerous awards, including a Logie Award in 1978, the Norman Kessell Award for ‘Most Outstanding Performance by an Actress’ in 2008 for her portrayal of Florence Foster Jenkins in the play ‘Glorious’, the Actors Equity/Foxtel Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and the Australia Post Legends Awards in 2020. Noeline has had a long association with the Actors Benevolent Fund of NSW, serving as treasurer and then chair for many years. She has published two books: ‘Longterm Memoir’, published by Allen and Unwin in 2005 and ‘Living the 1960s’, published by National Library of Australia in 2017. Noeline was appointed Ambassador for Ageing by the Federal government in 2008-2014.
“Frank” - Gregory Ross
A professional actor since 1967 after graduating from NIDA, Greg is best known for his extensive television work, particularly in Cop Shop. His roles in music theatre includes Godspell, The Sound of Music and Les Miserables, while stage plays include One Day Of The Year and Don’s Party. More recently he has also worked as a funeral celebrant. A long-time Rotarian, Greg is currently Chairman of Australian Rotary Health.
Acknowledgements
Funding
This program was developed thanks to funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and Beyond Blue.
Programming and Graphical Design
We are grateful to Samantha Kuhn and Matthew Roberts for their work in creating the Ageing Wisely Online platform.
Our Team
We would like to acknowledge the contributions from many others who have been involved in providing feedback and support for the development of this program, or who have been involved in developing therapy materials for previous versions of the Ageing Wisely program. In particular, the efforts of Dr Denise Meuldijk who has been integrally important in the creation of this program. Special thanks to Dr Ron Smith, Dr Lauren McLellan, Dr Jessamine Chen and Sophia Harris for their assistance with the development of this program.
References
Ageing Wisely Programs
- Wuthrich, V.M., Meuldijk, D., Johnco, C., Rapee, R.M., & Chen, J. (2019). Ageing Wisely Step 1 work at home program, The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Wuthrich, V.M., Johnco, C., Rapee, R.M., Meuldijk, D., & Chen, J. (2019). Ageing Wisely Step 2 program, The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Wuthrich, V. M., Johnco, C., Chen, J., Rapee, R.M., & Meuldijk, D. (2019). Ageing Wisely Workbook- SPAA Enhanced Research Version. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Wuthrich, V. M., Johnco, C., Chen, J., Rapee, R.M., & Meuldijk, D. (2019). Ageing Wisely Workbook- SPAA Standard Research Version. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Wuthrich, V. M. (2016). Ageing Wisely with Parkinson’s disease: An individual program to overcome worry and low mood. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Wuthrich, V. M., & Nowlan, J.S. (2015). Ageing Wisely: An individual program for older adults to overcome worry and low mood and change habits for a healthy lifestyle. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- Wuthrich, V.M. (2009). Ageing Wisely: Group Program for the treatment of worry and low mood in older adults. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Department of Psychology, Macquarie University: Sydney.
Journal Articles
- Wuthrich, V.M., & Rapee, R.M. (2019). Telephone delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for treating anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease: A Pilot Study. Clinical Gerontologist, 42 (4), 444-453. DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2019.1580811
- Wuthrich, V.M., Rapee, R.M., Draper, B., Brodaty, H., Low, L-F., & Naismith, S. (2019). Reducing Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline Though Psychological Interventions: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial, International Psychogeriatrics, 31, (7), 1015-1025. doi:10.1017/S1041610218001485
- Wuthrich, V.M., Rapee, R.M., Kangas, M., & Perini, S. (2016). Randomised Controlled Trial of Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Compared to a Discussion Group for Comorbid Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults. Psychological Medicine, 46 (4), 785-795. doi:10.1017/S0033291715002251
- Wuthrich, V.M., & Rapee, R.M. (2013). Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Comorbid Anxiety and Depression in older Adults. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51 (12), 779-786.