Yun-Hee Jeon is a nurse academic specialising in gerontology and psychogeriatrics, with expertise in behavioural intervention trials; qualitative and implementation research, and systematic reviews. Yun-Hee Jeon is a recognised leader in person-centred care, reablement, rehabilitation, quality outcomes, aged care workforce and clinical leadership in dementia and aged care. Her key contribution to healthy ageing is demonstrating that quality of life and wellbeing of older people improves when they are cared by care staff who understand and practice person-centred approaches to care. She has made a significant contribution to the field through bringing multidisciplinary teams, consumers, health and aged care service providers, local and federal government policy makers, and aged care peak bodies together in her research endeavours – reflecting the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’s call to work together across sectors and stakeholder groups to transform the world to be a better place to grow older.
Yun-Hee Jeon has been recognised for her leadership in dementia research awareness and capacity building through Citizen Science node and StepUp for Dementia Research, which was founded by Jeon in 2018 and funded by the Australian government to improve public/consumer involvement in dementia and aged care research. She has established collaborations with 25 industry partners to enhance dementia awareness and research participation in Australia.
Yun-Hee Jeon’s research has also contributed to the growing adoption of both person-centred care and environments in dementia practice guidelines such as the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia. Her research increased workforce capacity through state-wide programs implemented to improve leadership and management in aged care services (e.g. BaptistCare, >3500 staff, uses the clinical leadership program co-designed through her study to improve work environments; Whiddon, >2300 clients, transformed care practice pursuant to the program’s research on the experience of older people in care). Her research recommendations have been incorporated into aged care policy in New South Wales and Australia, including by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.