Dr Mark Q Thompson 

Dr Mark Thompson is a part-time Research Fellow with the NHMRC CRE Frailty and Healthy Ageing. Mark was awarded his PhD thesis in March 2020 on the topic “Frailty in older adults: Findings from longitudinal studies.” His PhD supervisors were Professor Renuka Visvanathan and Associate Professor Olga Theou. His current research is focused on frailty and sarcopenia in acute and residential care, together with the primary care management of older adults. Mark also contributes to the teaching program for the University of Adelaide’s 5th year medicine (geriatrics), on the topics of healthy ageing, intrinsic capacity, and frailty.

Mark also works as an Occupational Therapist in community-based aged care and Aboriginal health, and has extensive experience in ageing and rehabilitation. He is a managing director of Inspire Therapy, a private allied health and therapy service [[email protected]].

Mark’s publications can be viewed via Google Scholar. 

Mark’s research is focused on frailty and sarcopenia in acute and residential care, together with the primary care management of older adults.

BAppScOT (University of South Australia)

MPH (University of Adelaide)

PhD (University of Adelaide)

Professional Associations

Member OT Australia

November 2018: Mark Thompson was invited to participate in the planning and delivery of a System Wide Health and Wellbeing Strategy Workshop for SA Health. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024 is a State-wide, system-level strategy developed to meet future health challenges, specifically focused on South Australia’s health priorities for the next five years.

A workshop was held on 6 November 2018, at Flinders University, Victoria Square, Adelaide to seek a diverse range of participants’ views about themes, issues and challenges drawn from research evidence. A range of presentations and interviews explored priorities and future strategies to optimise health outcomes for the South Australian community. A diverse group of 136 participants including clinicians, consumers, senior SA Health managers and executive, representatives from the research and education sector, NGO service providers, as well as Government partner agencies from police, energy & mining, environment & water, education and the Auditor General’s department attended the workshop.

Mark interviewed Merle Scarce (photo below), about how the working relationship between health care providers and clients is important in achieving personal health goals. Merle talked about some of the positive aspects of care that she received and some negative aspects of care that could have been improved during her recent admission to hospital following a hip fracture. She highlighted the importance of taking an individual’s wishes and needs into account when delivering health care services, and how treating individuals with dignity, respect, and equal partners in care can have positive impacts on achieving their health goals.

The full video of Mark and Merle’s interview can be seen here.

October 2018: Mark delivered a workshop for support workers from Aboriginal Community Care (ACCSA) at the ACCSA office in Mile End. ACCSA is a non-profit Aboriginal-controlled organisation which provides community based and residential care services to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Elders. The workers who attended this training session deliver support services through Home Care Packages and the Commonwealth Home Support Program. Mark’s workshop focused on the indicators that contribute to frailty, and strategies that can be used to delay or reverse frailty and improve quality of life. Discussion included how some of these actions can be included in routine support services, and the important role that support workers play in identifying changes in function and reporting these back to service coordinators and health professionals. All of the support workers reflected on the services that they currently provide, and how these can contribute to social, emotional, physical, and cultural wellbeing of their clients. Information used in the presentation was drawn from Mark’s frailty research and his clinical experience as an occupational therapist.

http://www.aboriginalccsa.org.au/home

May 2016: Presentation to Elizabeth City Centre Weight Watchers: Frailty Identification and Intervention. A community engagement strategy of The Hospital Research Foundation and the BHI.

Read a story about Mark’s research “You’re helping our ageing population”  on THRF’s website (also in Edition 3 of their newsletter).