Ageing conference "a stunning success"

The Age Concern New Zealand and New Zealand Association of Gerontology conference concluded with the sound of waiata and agreement among delegates of the event’s unique value. 

“The conference has been a stunning success. Age Concern New Zealand is delighted to have co-hosted such a great event with such potential to improve older people’s lives thorough research and action,” Age Concern New Zealand national president Liz Baxendine said.  

“It was a rare opportunity for practitioners to meet together with policy makers and researchers to get the best for older people.”

Over 400 Conference delegates participated in Living in an Ageing Society - Shaping Tomorrow Today, the joint Age Concern New Zealand and New Zealand Association of Gerontology conference in Wellington from 7 to 9 October.

“Whenever two organizations combine, there’s always a risk," says Liz Baxendine, “but the risk definitely paid off.”

“It was a great achievement for our two volunteer-based organisations to successfully complete such a major conference on ageing.”

The papers rejected gloomy views of increased senior populations. “Ageing is a triumph” Professor Alan Walker of Sheffield University reminded delegates. “Never before in human history have so many people entered later life so healthy.”

Winning paper

Age Concern New Zealand professional adviser Louise Rees was awarded Third Best Paper for her analysis of the successful Accredited Visiting Service programme that links socially isolated older people with compatible volunteer visitors. 

“I congratulate Louise Rees on her work,” Liz Baxendine said. "She made a powerful case for continuing and extending the visiting programme across the country and making it again available to resthome residents.” 

“Loneliness has real health impacts.  Lonely people have a higher proportion of illness and depression.  Our Accredited Visiting Service is an inexpensive volunteer-based programme that can make a big difference.”

Three researchers including Ms Rees spoke to a packed audience about the problems faced by lonely older people.  One survey found more than half of seniors say they experience loneliness.  Other research shows that increasing international migration has led to a new generation of seniors facing loneliness as all their children live overseas.

Other conference findings 

Speakers unanimously emphasised the vital importance for older people of adequate income, health care access, safety, good social relationships and overcoming chronic loneliness, and an overarching need for respect for seniors.

Abuse and neglect

Age Concern New Zealand elder abuse and neglect professional adviser Jayne McKendry told a seminar audience that Age Concern elder abuse and neglect prevention teams respond, on average, to at least two cases each day but most abuse continued to go unreported. Age Concern advisers took seminar participants though two complex cases of abuse and neglect.

Dental health

Age Concern’s oral health panel of health workers and specialists said that teeth are the neglected health issue for older people, which can damage their general health and welfare. Seniors, especially resthome residents, face big problems with their teeth and it’s tough getting dental care for them.

“Oral health and general good health aren’t seen as related” panellists concluded.

For example, a retired GP told the conference he had only received 1 hours’ training on dental health in his whole medical training.

New housing

Answering seniors’ need for new types of housing, Age Concern Auckland launched their plan for New Zealand’s first intergenerational housing project.  The concept, popular in Europe, would offer seniors, young people and family groups an opportunity to live in mutually supportive housing.  Residents of all ages would build an intergenerational community offering support, shared public areas, and shared gardens while retaining the privacy and home ownership rights they want.

Resources

Listen to Prof Alan Walker —

>SOURCE Saturday Mornings with Kim Hill  / National Radio / 17 October 2009 8:15 (duration:26′51″) 

Listen to audio files or Download: Ogg Vorbis or MP3

>MORE Visit the Conference website