Australia’s recent reinforcement of aged care quality standards emphasises meaningful lifestyle and leisure activities (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, 2023). However, delivering genuinely person-centred leisure remains challenging in rural aged care settings, particularly those serving culturally and ethnically diverse older populations. This study addresses these challenges by examining leisure and lifestyle practices in rural South Australian residential aged care facilities. This research evaluates a gerontologist-led, person-centred leisure and lifestyle intervention model using a mixed-methods case study design. Gerontologists conducted holistic assessments in collaboration with multidisciplinary health professionals, social workers, and Expressive Arts Professionals. Twenty-six permanent residents aged 75–101 years participated. Data were collected through structured assessments, observations, participation records, and resident feedback, capturing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial engagement indicators. Preliminary findings indicate that structured, person-centred assessments support meaningful engagement, particularly when leisure activities align with residents’ functional capacity, personal preferences, occupational identity, and cultural background. Increased engagement was observed in activities tailored to gendered preferences and individual life histories. However, a significant gap was identified in current evaluation practices, with limited tools available to measure long-term outcomes and sustained wellbeing resulting from leisure interventions. The findings demonstrate that specialist gerontology leadership enhances care coordination, supports holistic wellbeing, and reduces fragmentation in leisure and lifestyle service delivery (Lorber et al., 2025). This study proposes a replicable, evidence-based framework emphasising long-term evaluation tools to measure sustained impact, supporting wellbeing, engagement, and equity of care in multicultural rural aged care.

Authors:
Daniela Garrido Werner, Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), Australia

About the Presenter(s)
Daniela Garrido Werner, M.Sc., is Coordinator of Leisure & Lifestyle at Local Health Network in Australia. Gerontology specialist with 10+ yrs experience in aged care, research and policy across the world leading person-centred care.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-garrido-werner-b18549100/

Additional website of interest
https://www.uautonoma.cl/noticias/escuela-universitaria-ua-beneficiara-a-mas-de-110-adultos-mayores-con-oportunidades-de-formacion/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CEs%20un%20programa%20del%20que,cursos%20contemplados%20en%20esta%20iniciativa.

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