Thursday October 4 was a cold and unusually rainy night. Not the best night for a meeting and discussion. Despite all that, 50 people packed the Robertson Community Centre to learn about and discuss ageing.
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A discussion group thinking about the future of Robertson Village has been considering the ongoing needs of the community and realised that a priority was enabling people to stay in their homes as they aged.
So the group of Karen Wilmot, Lyndy Scott, Mark Turner, Sue Everdell, Neville Fredericks and Michael Breen looked around for an expert to inform them and interested others about what could be done to make Robertson AgeFriendly. A stand out option was Doug Faircloth from Verso Consulting in Melbourne, a pre-eminent expert in the field with considerable successes.
“I have spoken to thousands of people across Australia in my work helping at the federal, state and community levels dealing with Australia’s ageing crisis. Only two people have ever said they wanted to go to a home for old people,” Doug said. “Rural Australia needs a better deal in aged care.”
The Robertson crowd learnt that the World Health Organisation recognised the care of older people was the most serious health issue across nations.
More people were living longer than any time in history. Key areas concerned with an ageing population were outdoor spaces and buildings, transport, social participation, housing, respect and inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, community and health services.
Although home care was considered kinder, cheaper and healthier many often considered residential institutions were the only option. Residential care has a place in the differing needs of older people but it is not the default option. As shown on two ABC Four Corners programs and as the Royal Commission will show there is enormous room for improvement in care of older Australians.
Rural Australia has less resources stretched over longer distances for health and aged services than for metropolitan residents.
Robertson’s population is 575 residents aged between 40 to 59. It has 525 in the 60 plus age group. Many see aged care as something other people need. But unless people have other plans all will get older and be less capable of looking after themselves.
It’s sobering to realise the highest rate of male suicide in Australia is among men over 85. Doug Faircloth pointed out that 36 per cent of the population wanted smaller homes into which to downsize from a full size family home or rural property. AgeFriendly communities are respectful and courteous to all ages. They also provide employment.
We all need to ask ourselves “in what kind of a community do we want to grow older.”
- Michael D Breen
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