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MELBOURNE longitudinal studies on healthy ageing (MELSHA)

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The Melbourne Longitudinal Study on Healthy Ageing (MELSHA) Program consists of a series of three linked studies that form a large longitudinal study on healthy ageing. These studies are:

• Health Status of Older People (HSOP): investigates the health, health behaviours and service use of a representative group of older people living in Melbourne

• Health, Behaviours and Outcomes of Older Australians (HBOA): a follow-up the HSOP sample and focuses on biannual health behaviour change and continued annual measurements of functional ageing, health, and service outcomes.

• Functional Ageing, Health and Services: A Longitudinal Outcomes Study (FAHS): continues the follow-up of the HSOP sample and aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge base on ways in which functional ageing, medical conditions, and health behaviours influence the health, wellbeing and service use and survival of older people.

Beginning in 1994, the HSOP formed the baseline for the MELSHA Program and involved 1 000 people aged 65 and over living in Melbourne. HBOA and FAHS involved follow-ups of the original HSOP sample.

These three studies examine healthy ageing from biomedical, psychological, behavioural and social perspectives.

Funding for the MELSHA Program has come primarily from Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and NHMRC Project Grants, but also from ARC Small Grants and the Faculties of Health Sciences at La Trobe University and the University of Sydney.

DYNOPTA Chief Investigator:

Professor Colette Browning, Monash University

DYNOPTA Associate Investigator:

• Professor Hal Kendig, University of Sydney