Articles and Resources
Ageing resources and links
Social Exclusion Monitor
The social exclusion monitor is an approach to measuring social exclusion in Australia, developed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (MIAESR). It uses the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey of more than 13,000 people. The monitor is updated with each new wave of the HILDA survey.
https://www.bsl.org.au/research/social-exclusion-monitor/
Social Isolation Report
A new report released titled: Aging in the Shadows: An update on social isolation among older adults in NYC, by United Neighborhood Houses, 2017, https://www.ifa-fiv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Aging-In-The-Shadows-2017-1.pdf
Religious exemption laws and the effects on LGBT elders
A report titled: Dignity denied: Religious exemptions and LGBT elder services, December 2017, by Movement Advancement Project; Public Rights/Private Conscience Project; and SAGE,
While many of these religiously affiliated facilities provide quality care for millions of older adults, there is a coordinated effort to pass religious exemption laws, issue executive orders and agency guidance, and to litigate court cases to allow individuals, businesses, and even government contractors and grantees to use religion to discriminate. These laws are particularly worrisome for LGBT elders. Religious exemption laws jeopardize the security and safety of LGBT older adults at a time when they are most vulnerable and most in need.
National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care
National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care, http://meaningfulageing.org.au/national-guidelines-for-spiritual-care-in-aged-care/
Short film on spirituality in aged care
My Spirituality: Listening to people who access aged care services, Meaningful Ageing Australia,
A short film showing the importance of spirituality/spiritual care for older people. In the words of the older people in the film, we see how spirituality is an important dimension in their lives; how it is bigger than religion for some, as well as expressed through religion for others. The film was created in Victoria, Australia with participants from different member organisations of Meaningful Ageing Australia. The perspectives of older people in the film are framed through the lens of connection to others, nature, creativity, self and something bigger/God, taken from the domains of Meaningful Ageing’s ConnecTo Spiritual Screening Tool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq2NUSSkaxo&feature=youtu.be
Social infrastructure gap in health and ageing
A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Australian Unity, Closing the social infrastructure gap in health and ageing.
The social infrastructure gap is unsustainable Australia has a relatively advanced and equitable health and ageing system, but if we do not plan strategically for the future and innovate starting now, we risk in the not-too-distant future having an outdated, unsustainable system, that is unfit for purpose and unable to meet the needs of the population. The system needs to transform and incremental modifications or cost cutting approaches will not be enough to address the challenge. Australia needs a model focussed on wellbeing (rather than illness), that has a more integrated, preventive and outcomes-focussed approach. New policy, underpinned by real and practical action is needed.
https://www.pwc.com.au/publications/pdf/practical-innovation-sep18.pdf
The University of Melbourne Policy Shop ‘Ageing Thoughtfully’ podcast
The world’s population is ageing: with virtually every country in the world experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population.
Philosopher Professor Martha Nussbaum and Professor of Law Saul Levmore discuss how we as a society view ageing, does our view of ageing colour the policies that are developed for the elderly in our society, and what kind of different thinking can we develop for a community that is often forgotten.
https://omny.fm/shows/the-policy-shop/aging-thoughtfully-nussbaum-levmore-in-conversatio
TED Talk How to live passionately
How to live passionately – no matter your age, by author Isabelle Allende
https://www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_how_to_live_passionately_no_matter_your_age
TED talk How I became an entrepreneur at 66
How I became an entrepreneur at 66, by Paul Tasner, https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_tasner_how_i_became_an_entrepreneur_at_66#t-4086
Tackling ageism through design
ABS Radio Life Matters Program – podcast – Tackling ageism through design
Clare Newton from the Unviersity of Melbourne and Nigel Bertram from Monash University, talk about: When it comes to an ageing population, what role does architecture and design play in encouraging independence as adults get older and less mobile?
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/tackling-ageism-through-design/9561906
Short film on Attitudes to Ageing in Australia
In an increasingly ageing population, are Australians becoming more ageist? Researchers at the University of Melbourne, Dr Josh Healy and Dr Ruth Williams, the have been finding out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzYhjxcnQ5k
Cultural adaptation to ageing
Negotiating Ageing: Cultural adaptation to the prospect of a long life, by Simon Biggs, 2018, Routlege publishers, https://www.routledge.com/Negotiating-Ageing-Cultural-Adaptation-to-the-Prospect-of-a-Long-Life/Biggs/p/book/9781138947757
In this book, four major areas are discussed, all of which have been suggested as solutions to population ageing, are critically assessed, including work as an answer, the relationship between work, ageing and health, narratives of spirit, belief and wisdom, the body and the natural, anti-ageing medicine, critical approaches to dementia, plus family and intergenerational relations.
Age friendly cities and communities
Age Friendly Cities and Communities: A global perspective, Edited by Tine Buffel, Sophie Handler and Chris Phillipson, 2018, Policy Press, http://policypress.co.uk/age-friendly-cities-and-communities
As the drive towards creating age-friendly cities grows, this important book provides a comprehensive survey of theories and policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people living in urban areas. The book includes a manifesto for the age-friendly movement, focused around tackling social inequality and promoting community empowerment.