Measuring success - AOD and older people
Some example measures of success and tools to measure them are provided below. You may find these a useful starting point for measuring the success of your activity.
Process measures
- Engage with (xx) community organisations over the first three-months of the alcohol, other drugs and older people activity to assist in establishing access to older people to participate in your awareness raising activity/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity
- Work with (xx) community organisations to deliver awareness raising activities/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity targeting older people
- (xx) older people participating in (xx) awareness raising activities/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity targeting older people.
Post awareness raising activity/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity on alcohol, other drugs and older people:
(survey completed by target audience or participants pre/post activity/training).
Impact measures
As a result of the awareness raising activity or completing the upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity:
- (xx) older people will be aware of the NHMRC Drinking Guidelines
- (xx) older people will demonstrate an increase in awareness of the impacts and effects of alcohol and other drugs on the ageing body
- (xx) adults will report an increase participation and feelings of social connection within (xx) community.
Short-term impacts awareness raising activity/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity on alcohol, other drugs and older people (one month after):
- As a result of completing the awareness raising activity, (xx) participants will continue to demonstrate an increase in knowledge of impacts and effects of alcohol and other drugs on the ageing body
- As a result of completing the upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity, (xx) participants report ongoing engagement in the participation activity and stronger feelings of social connection within (xx) community.
Longer-term impacts of alcohol and older people training or information session (six months after completing the activity):
- As a result of completing the awareness raising activity, (xx) participants will further develop their knowledge of the impacts and effects of alcohol and other drugs on the ageing body
- As a result of completing the upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity, (xx) participants report further engagement in the participation activities and stronger feelings of social connection within (xx) community.
Tools to measure success
- Feedback sheets or questionnaires (both pre- and post- is preferable)
- Interviews
- Surveys
- Verbal feedback from participants, facilitators
- Notes taken by a dedicated note taker
- Document analysis (e.g. tracking and monitoring the number of resources distributed)
- Focus groups (e.g. with healthcare and service providers)
- Partnerships analysis
- Local population health data (e.g. community survey data).
Next steps
Other things you can do to support older people in your community:
- Work with your community partners to further connect and strengthen your community: see Strong and Connected Communities toolkit
- Work with your community partners to deliver a volunteering activity: see Involving Volunteers
- Participate in a community liquor licensing activity: see Community Participation in Liquor Licensing toolkit for WA, SA, ACT, and QLD.
More information
- The Alcohol and Drug Foundation
- The National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
- National Seniors
- Senior Services Guide
- Australian Government, Department of Social Services
- Australian Government, Department of Health’s Quality Use of Medicines