Ritchelle Drilon

Philippines

Senior Content Producer at Healthcare Channel

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Articles

Study: Patients prioritise better care over privacy concerns

1 week ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

University of South Australia research reveals overwhelming willingness among wearable device users to hand over personal health information to healthcare providers, defying expectations amid rising data privacy concerns. Despite daily headlines about data breaches and privacy risks, an overwhelming 94% of people using wearable activity trackers are willing to share their personal health information with healthcare providers, new research reveals.
Staff member’s ultra aged care push for older Australians

1 week ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

John Barnard-Richardson is preparing for a 106-kilometre ultra-marathon not just as a test of endurance, but as a personal mission to improve care for older Australians at Royal North Shore Hospital. On 28 June, Barnard-Richardson will take on the grueling Ultra Trail Jervis Bay to raise funds through the NORTH Foundation, supporting aged care services at the hospital where he has long served as a staff member in the Northern Sydney Local Health District.
New aged care guidelines flip script from “doing for” to “doing with” seniors

1 week ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

A fundamental shift in aged care philosophy is underway in Australia, with new clinical guidelines rejecting the traditional “managing decline” model in favour of actively restoring seniors’ independence and life skills. The Restorative Care Pathway Clinical Guidelines, developed by Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute and released this month, will underpin the federal government’s Support at Home program launching November 1, marking a decisive move toward empowerment-based aged care.
$170K grant equips regional women for aged care careers

1 week ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

RSL LifeCare has secured $170,000 from the NSW Government’s Return to Work Pathways Program to launch a new initiative aimed at addressing workforce shortages in aged care while opening up employment opportunities for women in regional New South Wales. The initiative, titled Empowering Women, Supporting Veterans & Seniors, will provide aged care traineeships to up to 40 women in seven regional locations: Merimbula, Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Narrandera, Condobolin, Nowra and Wagga Wagga.
Older Australians want elder abuse support beyond police

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

New research by Better Place Australia has found that many older Victorians are reluctant to engage with formal elder abuse systems, highlighting the need for more flexible, community-based support that respects individual preferences and concerns. The study, based on a survey of 539 older Victorians, reveals that one in five older adults would be unlikely to seek support if they experienced mistreatment from a family member or carer.
‘Common sense prevails’: Aged Care Act delay aims to prevent disruption

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

The federal government has postponed the implementation of Australia’s landmark Aged Care Act by four months following intense pressure from industry groups who warned the original July deadline would create “chaos and confusion” for older Australians. Health Minister Mark Butler and Aged Care Minister Sam Rae announced the new Aged Care Act will now commence on 1 November 2025, instead of the promised July 1 start date, after the government recommends the delay to Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
Disability and aged care workers score major pay victory

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

Health, aged care and disability workers will see a modest boost to their weekly pay following the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase minimum award wages by 3.5% from 1 July 2025. The Health Services Union (HSU) has welcomed the move, describing it as a crucial step in easing cost-of-living pressures for some of Australia’s most award-reliant and lowest-paid workers.
Scientists reveal why you’re ageing faster than you should be

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

Two 65-year-olds may look identical on paper, but one will live to 90 while the other dies at 72. Columbia University scientists have developed a revolutionary ageing tool that can predict who’s who, using nothing more than basic medical tests. The breakthrough method measures how fast you’re ageing, not just how old you are.
How depression may serve as an early warning sign for dementia

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

New research has found that depression diagnosed in midlife or later may not only increase a person’s risk of developing dementia, but could also be an early indicator of the disease itself. The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, was led by researchers from the University of Adelaide in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Curtin University. It is one of the most comprehensive investigations to date, combining an umbrella review of eight studies and a meta-analysis of 18 others.
Seniors train on virtual footpaths to prevent real-world falls

3 weeks ago | healthcarechannel.co | Ritchelle Drilon

Virtual reality (VR), often associated with video games, is being repurposed by Australian researchers to help older adults reduce their risk of falling, a major public health issue for people aged 65 and over. In a recent study led by Dr Yoshiro Okubo from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and UNSW Sydney, VR technology was used to train older adults in obstacle avoidance, a key skill that can prevent trips and slips.