Seminars in Ageing: Preventative Outpatient Services for Older Adults

Ella Cooper 

About the Presenter

Ella is an Accredited Clinical Exercise Physiologist with a strong background in both clinical practice and health system improvement. She holds an undergraduate degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, a Graduate Diploma in Health Service Improvement, and is currently completing her Master’s in Health Service Improvement. Over the past four years, Ella has worked across a range of private and public healthcare settings bringing a thoughtful and outcomes-focused approach to her work. She has a particular interest in preventative health and is passionate about supporting individuals to maintain function and independence across the lifespan. She is an inaugural member of the Centre for STRONG Medicine team at Concord Hospital, where she provides patient-centric, evidence-based care for older adults.

About the Seminar

The Centre for STRONG Medicine at Concord Hospital is a multidisciplinary service designed to improve function and quality of life in older adults living with chronic disease and frailty. Based on the original Balmain Hospital STRONG model established in 1999, the program integrates progressive resistance training, nutrition, and comprehensive geriatric care to address key contributors to frailty, including sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and falls risk. Aligned with national and international guidelines, such as the 2017 Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of frailty and the 2024 Global Consensus on exercise recommendations for longevity, the STRONG program emphasises tailored, high-intensity, and periodised exercise approaches. Since launching at Concord Hospital in 2022, the service has assessed over 780 patients, with a completion rate of approximately 90%. Patient-reported experience measures have indicated high satisfaction, and strategies are in place to support ongoing physical activity beyond the program. This presentation outlines the clinical framework, evidence base, and outcomes of the STRONG model, as well as its role in addressing the growing demands of an ageing population.