Deborah Brooks

Deborah Brooks is a researcher affiliated with Queensland University of Technology, specializing in dementia care, gerontology, and psychosocial interventions for family caregivers. Her work spans systematic reviews, feasibility trials, and tool development to address mental health, residential care transitions, and non-pharmacological approaches for people with cognitive impairment.

Research Focus

• Interventions for anxiety reduction in dementia patients
• Telehealth and technology-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy
• Support systems for spousal caregivers during residential care transitions
• Mental health benchmarking in aged care
• Non-pharmacological management of wandering behavior
• Improving quality of life for Indigenous populations in long-term care

Notable Contributions

Deborah led a pilot study on "Bereavement without death" (2020), exploring psychosocial support for caregivers. She co-developed the Safe Walking Assessment and Planning (SWAP) tool (2019) and contributed to numerous randomized trials on telehealth CBT and videoconferencing counseling programs. Her research often involves collaborations with multidisciplinary teams across geriatrics, nursing, and social work.