Making decisions about how we want to live as we age is tough, wherever you live in the world.
That’s the view of Canadian ageing expert Dr Jane Barratt who is calling for communities around Australia to create opportunities for these conversations.
As International Federation on Ageing secretary general Dr Barratt will be in Victoria in November to talk about innovations in aged care.
She says the decisions we have to make about ageing are difficult and often seen as ‘taboo’.
“Fear of being alone and asking: ‘what am I going to do because I want to maintain my independence?’ are all decisions a person has to make.
“It’s difficult to be ready to get old and some people won’t make these decisions,” Dr Barratt said.
“The best thing that we can say is that communities create the opportunities for these conversations – community is essential as we grow old.”
Dr Barratt will be talking about the future of aged care at a presentation in Yackandandah in north east Victoria on November 9.
She said the future of aged care is about creating environments that support older people to live well.
“The decisions for older people are many; work, family, support, housing. When they need medical care, even in cities, the complicated routine of going to specialists and GPs and them not talking to each other is challenging to navigate,” she said.
“There are many developments helping with these things, such as specialists using virtual consulting. There are lots of ways we can create environments to support older people,” she said.
Her presentation, Ageing well: Innovations from around the world is being hosted by aged care provider Yackandandah Health and will include a Q&A panel with Yackandandah Health chief executive Annette Nuck and others.
Ms Nuck said Dr Barratt will share a range of insights and approaches from her international work and experience including advances in robotics, brain health and intergenerational models.
“For too long the aged care focus has been on illness. Older people are older than the rest of us, not necessarily sick. Dr Barratt’s work is heavily focused on a wellness model, where we support older people to enjoy their life and do the things they want to do,” Ms Nuck said.
In August, Yackandandah Health was awarded with a commendation at the Aged Care Quality Agency’s Better Practice conference for its Lets Grow Old Together intergenerational project at Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital.
Details: www.trybooking.com/XRMO or yackandandahhealth.com.au
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
