By: Allison Currie
Elaine Moody, PhD, RN, has always had a deep connection with older adults, a bond that began during her childhood with her grandparents and continued into her early career as a home support worker while completing nursing school.
"One of the best jobs I ever had was being a home support worker, spending eight to 12 hours with older adults in their homes,” says Dr. Moody. “I’d sit, talk and help them through their daily routines. I’ve always enjoyed being around older people—listening to their stories, learning about how life used to be, and gaining their wisdom. And I knew I loved research as well. By day 12 of nursing school, I knew I wanted to pursue research in nursing."
Given her passion for both nursing and older adults, it’s no surprise that Dr. Moody’s research career has had a focus on improving their care within the healthcare system.
But it’s not just passion that makes her work successful. Dr. Moody is an Affiliate Scientist with Nova Scotia Health, an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing and an Associate Scientist with the Maritime SPOR Support Unit. With 20 years of nursing experience across acute care, community care and long-term residential care, Dr. Moody brings a wealth of academic and clinical expertise to her research.
At the heart of her work is the Moody Research Lab, where she leads an interdisciplinary team as principal investigator. The team has included research staff and trainees from diverse fields such as nursing, medicine, recreational therapy, physiotherapy, sociology and health promotion, reflecting the collaborative nature of her research.
So how does the work led by Dr. Moody translate into improved care? Hospitalization can be a distressing experience for people with dementia, often resulting in longer stays, higher chances of nursing home placement, and increased risk of severe health outcomes. The work at the Moody Research Lab helps to develop evidence-based strategies to better support these patients in hospitals and other care settings.
Currently, Dr. Moody’s team is conducting several projects focused on dementia care, exploring how factors like stigma, care setting (residential vs. in-home) and nursing practices influence patient experiences.
An example of her work is a recent research collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of Canada that focuses on the role of nursing care in enhancing hospital experiences for people with dementia. Because nurses are central to the patient experience, it's important to have a broad understanding of what is going well and what can be improved.
This particular project has multiple research components: interviews with people living with dementia and their caregivers to capture their experiences with hospital care; discussions with hospital staff and front line leaders to identify best practices and challenges in dementia care; a review of research on different nursing approaches to improve care for dementia patients in hospitals, using a mix of different methods; and an exploration of how therapeutic recreation can complement nursing care to enhance patient outcomes.
The findings from this research will offer practical insights for nurses, informing the types of tools and resources that can be made available to ensure continued high-quality care for dementia patients in a hospital setting.
“The work being done within Research, Innovation & Discovery at Nova Scotia Health is critical because it drives innovation, improves patient experience and outcomes, reduces barriers and ensures our healthcare practices are evidence-based,” says Jeannie Shoveller, PhD, Vice President, Research Nova Scotia Health. “The research taking place via the Moody Research Lab exemplifies how healthcare research translates into better care for Nova Scotians.”
Ultimately, Dr. Moody’s research informs interventions that enhance both the working environment for nurses and the quality of care for patients, leading to improved outcomes for one of our most vulnerable populations.
Research is care, and clinical studies help translate research into potentially life-changing therapies that can help you, your friends and your loved ones. Want to know more about how to get involved? Visit Nova Studies Connect today: novastudiesconnect.ca
