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Practice for sale formThe Live Well intervention, developed by South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) services, focuses on improving the health of older adults receiving mental healthcare. The intervention aims to address unhealthy lifestyle habits, which are known to contribute to disease and early mortality, particularly among those with mental health conditions. The program encourages mental health clinicians to engage their clients in making small, sustainable lifestyle changes during routine healthcare encounters.
The intervention was based on the Canadian Fountain of Health model, which highlights five key areas for healthy living: physical activity, social connections, mental activity, mental wellbeing and optimism. Live Well added a sixth domain, healthy eating, and adapted resources to be culturally appropriate for diverse populations, providing educational materials in multiple languages. The intervention promotes the use of the Health and Wellness Questionnaire (HAWQ), a self-assessment tool which helps individuals rate their current lifestyle in these six areas. Clinicians guide participants through goal-setting using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed) method.
Key findings
The study enrolled 65 participants, with 52 completing the program over a 12-week period. Results showed improvements across most lifestyle areas, especially in physical activity, mental activity, mental wellbeing and optimism. Although healthy eating did not see significant changes, participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the program and reported feeling better about their health and goal achievements. Clinicians who participated in the study also reported positive experiences, noting the program was easy to integrate into their work and helped their patients achieve meaningful improvements in lifestyle.
What you can do
If you’re caring for older adults or working with those in mental health services, consider how small lifestyle changes can have a big impact. Promoting physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connections can improve health outcomes and quality of life. Tools like the SMART goal-setting method and the HAWQ can help individuals take manageable steps toward healthier living. To learn more about how to use these strategies, you can explore the Live Well resources, which include multilingual educational materials and goal-setting templates.
Visit South Western Sydney PHN’s website for more information.