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SGA Appoints the Global Ageing Network as Regional Focal Point

The Global Ageing Network is proud to announce that Marcus Riley, the Global Ageing Network Board Chair, has been elected to serve as the Asia and the Pacific Region Focal Point on the Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA) Steering Committee. SGA, as part of the United Nations system, brings together global and national networks of organizations concerned with issues of ageing. SGA is a member of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders mechanism involved in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SGA Members are non-governmental organizations working in the field of ageing, at the global, regional, and national levels. The SGA enables the voice of older persons to be heard at the global level with respect to the UN’s 2030 Agenda and its implementation process.

Marcus Riley is well-suited to represent the Global Ageing Network as the SGA Asia and the Pacific Region Focal Point. He serves on The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) Steering Committee among various other industry leadership positions. The Global Ageing Network is strongly connected with organisations, authorities and individuals associated with the ageing industry throughout the world and will utilize our established networks across Australia, India, Malaysia, China, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka and other locations across the Asia-Pacific region to effectively contribute to the important work of SGA. As the focal point, we look forward to engaging a broad range of stakeholders to support and harness the technical capacity, leadership, and best practices of constitutes at  the regional and national level. It is imperative to have international, regional, and national participation in order to successfully implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Riley stated “ageing is a global megatrend which demands the attention of all nations and regions of the world.  The mechanism provided by SGA is the moset effective way for relevant stakeholders to input and help ensure our ageing communities are front of mind at the UN and national government levels.”  He added “I am privileged to be involved in this capacity and am eager to work with interested parties as we strive to make ageing a wonderful opportunity for all older people.”

This appointment is a great step for the Global Ageing Network in its commitment to ensure rights and opportunities of ageing and older people are adequately included and responded to in the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda.  Please continue to follow our efforts at www.globalageing.org or via Twitter @GlobalAgeing.

Building a Socially Connected Age-Friendly City

Photo: (Left to right) Gregor Rae, Colin Williams and Steve Ordahl

By Shannon Davis

At the LeadingAge conference in New Orleans, Louisiana this past October, three panelists came together to present a global example of how to build a socially connected age-friendly future. Steve Ordahl, Vice President at Ecumen; Gregor Rae, Founder of ActiveAge; and Colin Williams, Director of Transformation, Adult & Culture Services at Newcastle City Council, recognized the need for age-friendly design and social-connectedness in their communities and discussed the key domains of age-friendly design that aims to reconstruct social and physical environments to foster more community engagement and interaction.

The age-friendly community concept is one in which older adults encounter a welcoming attitude from policy makers, service providers, and the general population. The presentation highlighted the global ageing demographic and noted that by 2050, there will be more people over the age of 65 than under 15 years of age. Further, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban environments.

The movement to make cities more age-friendly is not a new one. Nearly 300 municipalities around the world are participating in the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities of the World Health Organization. Mr. Rae highlighted the example of Toyama, Japan as an age-friendly city. Toyama has a population of over 420,000 in which 30% of the population will be 65 years old by 2025. Toyama is a sprawling area and reinvented itself to become a vibrant city center with easily accessible amenities and services for the ageing population.

A new initiative, Vitalocity!, was developed in 2011 to help plan for sustainable environments that are socially and economically vibrant and encourages the integration and the well-being of people of all ages and stages in life. Over the past few years, a team of experts in senior living joined forces to make communities more age-friendly and to focus on addressing the challenges of social isolation and inadequate care. Mr. Ordahl noted that, “being age-friendly cannot be separated from other things in the city. Social isolation is an acute problem and it is our responsibility to engage all people.” The initiative was launched in the midst of a vibrant “hip area” of Apple Valley, Minnesota and focuses on a multi-generational approach.

Since the founding of Vitalocity!, other international entities of all sizes have joined the consortium and succeeded in implementing age-friendly communities. In Newcastle, the community reexamined its structure to adapt to the age-friendly community. Newcastle has undergone a renaissance, becoming a core city in the United Kingdom with a diverse and growing economy that contributes $20 billion to the economy. Newcastle is an ageing city in which the number of people aged 75-84 will increase by almost 60 percent over the next 20 years. The Newcastle Way Life Course recognizes that “older people are a major asset to our city (Newcastle) and to our society as a whole.” Further, the Newcastle Way Life Course teaches all of us the importance of recognizing that each of us has a personal history that makes us who we are, at whatever stage of life, something that the global ageing community should emulate to create an age-friendly community. Newcastle has connected the public and building experts to design homes for the future that include innovations in prefabrication, flexible living materials, and digital and low energy technology to provide supportive homes for everyone, at any stage of life.

The session closed with the emphasis on continual learning from one another around the world so that seniors can safely and comfortably engage in civic life which leads to a city’s enrichment.

Global Ageing Network and LASA Forge New Partnership

For Immediate Release

Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA) announced a formal partnership with the Global Ageing Network at its National Congress held in the southern hemisphere on the Gold Coast from 15-18 October 2017.

“This is a significant partnership that will ensure our Members directly benefit from the shared knowledge, professional development, educational resources and leadership opportunities arising from this important relationship,” LASA CEO Sean Rooney said.

“Our partnership with the Global Ageing Network provides all LASA members with access to the resources, networks and support of the Global Ageing Network. And this is provided to LASA members at no additional cost to their membership.”

The Global Ageing Network, currently Chaired by Australian Marcus Riley, from BallyCara in Brisbane, highlighted the opportunities for LASA members through this new arrangement

“GAN plays a role in an increasing number of countries to foster innovation and support the work of organisations to increase access, quality and choice for their communities,” Mr Riley said.

“A key focus for the Network is– as the name suggests – to connect people and organisations who share aligned values and priorities. This creates excellent opportunities for all types of organisations whether it’s for shared learning and exchange of information, business expansion or partnerships, or simply informal linkages that connect people.”

Mr Rooney said that in an era when the world’s population is collectively ageing, it is vital to embrace the opportunities and learnings that will emerge from beyond the narrow confines of borders and countries.

“We all know the unprecedented demand we are experiencing in Australia with meeting the needs of our rapidly ageing population, forecast to triple in the coming decades,” Mr Rooney said.

“Similarly, by 2050 the world’s ageing population will be larger than the younger population for the first time in history – reaching two billion people over the age of 60.”

Mr Rooney said the Global Ageing Network is an international organisation of service providers, businesses, scholars and others committed to addressing the challenges and opportunities of global ageing.

“This network provides the mechanism for collaboration and partnership for our industry worldwide,” Mr Rooney said.

“Inclusively, we share the common interest to ensure older people all over the world have access to the highest quality of care and services.

“The Global Ageing Network represents the interests of more than 26,000 age services organisations across more than 50 countries, caring and serving millions of people every day.”

LASA National

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A Global Ageing Journey (Guest Post by Joyce Eid)

Joyce Eid of Moadieh Evangelic Center for Assisted Living in Lebanon reflects on her personal journey into aged care and the new learning and relationships gained from being a part of the Global Ageing Network.

After graduating from the American University of Beirut with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I met my husband as we were both working for the American University of Beirut – Medical Center. As a resident in cardiology, he spent a lot of time in the unit where I worked and we immediately fell in love and got married. When our 2 boys became high school students, I had more time on my hands and felt the need to spend more time with them in the afternoons as they were doing their homework. I got my MBA with lots of love and support from my family.

I was asked by the National Evangelical Church in 2012 to run a newly donated and renovated center to be the first assisted living center in Beirut. It was a quite a challenge! I had no training in long term care.

So, I visited Palm Village Retirement Community in California where its President and CEO, David Reimer, was more than welcoming and supportive. I came back to Beirut and we inaugurated Moadieh Evangelical Center (MEC) for Assisted Living.

The challenges we face are essentially the stigma in the Lebanese culture that close-knit families take care of their seniors in the privacy of their own homes. Slowly and steadily our community is becoming more accepting of the fact that some seniors are better cared for in a more  professional setting such as MEC and other newly developing centers providing high standards of care.

“Respecting the differences, learning new ways of service and believing in our ability to raise the standards of care is what I have learned to be possible…”

A landmark in my career was the EAHSA Conference in September 2014 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There, I got to meet Katie Sloan, executive director of the Global Ageing Network, who was interested in knowing about senior care services in Beirut. My brief discussion with her over breakfast made me more confident of our ability to raise senior care to higher levels of quality in my country.

Most long term care in Lebanon is faith based. With the support and encouragement of David Reimer, I developed a group called the “Lebanese Interfaith Group” which includes ten long term care centers of different faiths. This was a huge success and a first of its kind in Lebanon. We presented our story at the LeadingAge conference in November 2015 in Boston. It was a fabulous learning and sharing experience! It made me more determined to root the collaborations among the Lebanese Interfaith Group ourselves and international networks.

Through a full financial scholarship from the Global Aging Network, I was privileged to attend with two other members from the Lebanese Interfaith Group the 2017 Global Ageing Conference in Montreux, Switzerland this past September. We tried to attend different sessions and share among ourselves our notes and comments. We found this to be an efficient way to absorb as much information as possible. The blend of fun and education made the overall conference experience fabulous.  We had a great time at the Gala dinner and the farewell reception. It was wonderful to reconnect with those who I have met at  the earlier Amsterdam and Boston meetings.

For instance, I met architect Philippe Saad Boston and invited him as a speaker to the Lebanese Interfaith Group conference in Lebanon in April 2017. I was able to meet him again in Montreux. Not only do these conferences bring us closer as colleagues in long term care, they also strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutual welfare.

Respecting the differences, learning new ways of service and believing in our ability to raise the standards of care is what I have learned to be possible through this Global Aging Conference.

Celebrating the Talents & Contributions of Older Adults in Our Communities #UNIDOP

By Katie Smith Sloan

October 1st marks the 27th anniversary celebration of International Day of Older Persons.

International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) is an opportunity each year to celebrate the experience, wisdom and contributions of older adults around the world. “Old Age” is a life lived… a stage of life and a journey over time.

Too often, it is associated with decline and loss. Too often, older adults are ignored based on a false assumption that they have little to contribute. This is nothing short of ageism.

IDOP is an optimal time to remind ourselves that–as nations–we cannot afford to ignore the millions of older people–their skills, ideas and experiences. They are part of the economic engine of our societies. They have built our communities and strengthened our families.

As the number of older adults increases throughout the world, we must commit to challenging ageist attitudes and to creating opportunities to hear from and learn from older adults. As the Global Ageing Network, we have a unique relationship to older adults as they access our member organizations, our housing, services and supports. They are a valued and valuable part of the fabric of our societies and a good reason to celebrate on this International Day of Older Persons.

Reflections from Montreux | Katie Smith Sloan

By Katie Smith Sloan

The Global Ageing Network concluded its biennial conference last week in Switzerland. The conference was an amazing gathering of leaders from around the world sharing one purpose: to make the world a better place in which to grow old.

Imagine the opportunity to learn from, share insights and identify solutions with leaders in aged care and services around the world. Think about the challenges facing organizations in rural Uganda, Bangladesh or Malawi. Picture yourself leading an organization in Kenya that serves over 450 home-bound elders who have been neglected and are in need of the basics:  food, housing and clothing. The conference is both humbling and inspiring.

I would argue that no nation, institution, or community is prepared for societies that are rapidly ageing. But, many in Switzerland last week recognized the opportunity this presents to innovate and experiment. There is an eagerness to try new things – a western-inspired nursing home in an eastern culture (China); a hospice program in a country in Africa for which hospice is a new concept; a community center built and run by elders in the aftermath of a natural disaster to bring the community back together; and a wellness center for exercise in rural South Africa where exercise has heretofore come from walking from one village to another. A world of possibilities.

Each of us has a unique role to play.

As a global network, we have the opportunity to work together–to tackle ageism, to fight abuse and neglect,  to design better systems of care and service, and to realize the potential of technology. Creating a better future for the world’s elders is an imperative; and the opportunity to be part of the creation is a gift. A gift embodied by the Global Ageing Network.

We look forward to hearing your ideas, innovations, and challenges.

Celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1st! #UNIDOP

October 1 is International Day of Older Persons (#UNIDOP). This year’s theme is: “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.”

The theme is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large. It focuses on the pathways that support full and effective participation in old age, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences.

Participate in #UNIDOP by sharing on social media.

Sample Facebook posts:

  • Celebrate  #UNIDOP with us by tapping older persons’ talents, recognizing their contributions, and encouraging their participation in society.

  • #Ageism undermines older persons’ rights and hinders their contributions to social, economic, cultural and political life. Celebrate #UNIDOP by fighting ageism in your community.

Sample tweets:

  • Celebrate #OlderPersons by tapping their talents, recognizing their contributions, and encouraging their participation in society. #UNIDOP

  • #Ageism

Save and share this #UNIDOP infocard on your social feeds:

 

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Three New Directors To Join Global Ageing Network Board in 2018

The Global Ageing Network is pleased to announce that Stephen Cornelissen, Laetitia Daufenbach and Judy Martin will be joining our Board of Directors in January 2018.

Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen is Group Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Health in Richmond, Australia. He has 25 years experience in the health and aged care industry in Australia and New Zealand. Since Stephen’s appointment as CEO, Mercy Health has grown significantly. The organization has expanded its aged care operations into Western Australia and Queensland, and acquired 14 more homes in Victoria. Stephen is recognized internationally for his expertise in organizational performance development and strategic leadership, and, in 2016 was named CEO of Year by The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards.

Based in Paris, France, Laetitia Daufenbach is Senior Vice President, head of Strategic Planning and Projects and a member of Sodexo’s Global Seniors Executive Committee. In her current role, she defines Sodexo’s Global Segment’s strategic plan based on mega trends, market and competitor analyses, harnessing a thorough knowledge and awareness of strengths and opportunities within the field. With family origins in France, Norway and Portugal, Laetitia brings a diverse, multicultural background to her global role.

Judy Martin holds a key executive role as Director SAGE International Program Manager and Industry Liaison Manager (Seniors Living) at ThomsonAdsett in South Brisbane, Australia.  She commenced her career as registered nurse and holds more than 20 years clinical experience in various areas of health including management of a day surgery (operating theatre), Indigenous Health and Aged Care Management. She has extensive national and international links in the field of aged care and is a recognized and well-respected contributor to the field.

We are excited to have Stephen, Judy and Laetitia joining our leadership as we continue to support and strengthen the global aged care network and the communities we serve!

#GlobalAgeing2017 Bids Farewell to Montreux!

The 2017 Global Ageing Conference in Montreux, Switzerland (18-21 September 2017) connected over a thousand aged care professionals representing more than 20 countries and 6 continents! Conference highlights ranged from an immersive 2-day leadership development program to a robust educational offering with topics ranging from innovative care models and dementia care to strategic leadership and wellness.

The conference was also sprinkled with exciting entertainment, networking opportunities and social events–including a beautiful opening reception and dinner (where our 2017 Awards for Excellence recipients were showcased and presented with their awards) and a closing Farewell Reception for our international attendees to toast and bid sweet goodbye to beautiful Montreux.

Fighting Frailty One Mouthful and One Repetition at a Time

By Jo Boylan, Ngaire Hobbins and Tim Henwood (Guest Post)

As the population ages, the percentage of older adults diagnosed as pre-frail or frail will continue to increase. For the individual, a diagnosis of frailty indicates a significant physical burden and reduced quality of life, in addition to an increased risk of falls, institutionalization and death. For a government that is responsible for providing aged care support for the frail population, the financial implications are significant. In Australia, the provision of such support is projected to increase from ~$115 billion currently to ~$246 billion in the coming two decades (Goss 2008, Projects of Australian health expenditure). Although research suggests that there are a number of cost-effective, evidence-based, life enhancing strategies available to reduce frailty, they remain underutilized or are poorly translated into practice.

Targeted nutrition and exercise based interventions is a proven effective and low-cost method of reducing frailty among older adults. Low protein diets cause losses in lean muscle mass and also blunt the body’s ability to rebuild muscle mass. For those with complex aged care needs, the prevalence of muscle loss and frailty are further exacerbated by physical inactivity, where negative muscle remodeling occurs according to its contractile requirement. There is strong evidence supporting the introduction of protein supplements into the diets of older adults, including research into the amount, quality and timing of delivery. Aged care providers who consciously promote protein uptake consistent with current evidence report improved physical well-being among clients. In addition, progressive resistance and weight bearing exercises can be used to combat sedentary behavior and have gained attention as powerful tools in the battle against disability. Research shows that delivery of moderate-to-high intensity, machine-based progressive resistance training within community and residential aged care settings produces undeniable positive benefits, which are further enhanced with the inclusion of balance exercises. Although this modality of exercise remains an underutilized care model, aged care providers who have embraced it have reported significant client benefit, including improved mobility, muscle strength and physical performance, as well as relief from chronic disease symptoms and medication needs.

This presentation will demonstrate the value of embracing current evidence for clients and organizations, and will showcased translational programs that have been rewarded with national awards and practice recognition. Delegates will learn how a large Australian aged care provider has embedded healthy ageing as its model of care. This model is guided by the World Health Organisation Five Standards for Health Promotion and is underpinned by the healthy settings approach. The methodology is systematic, interdisciplinary and integrated. It is supported by policies, procedures, systems and processes including an established early intervention program to address decline and reverse frailty, evidence based measures, access to gyms and support from exercise professionals. Additional enablers include health promoting opportunities for social connections, ongoing learning and health literacy, exercise classes, resistance training, and good nutrition. These enablers promote active and healthy ageing and compress the stage of decline and disability, even for frail older people. So far, this strategy has shown a 54% reduction in fractures over the last two years across 16 residential homes.

Special Note:  This presentation has already taken place at the 2017 Global Ageing Conference in Montreux, Switzerland. If you would like to learn more about this presentation or would like to contact the presenters, contact us.

About the Authors

 

Josephine Boylan, Director of Operations, Southern Cross Care, Parkside, South Australia, Australia
Josephine Boylan is the Director Operations Southern Cross Care. Over the past 7 years Jo has been leading organisational reorientations toward healthy ageing approaches across residential, community and retirement living communities. Her health ageing achievements include development and implementation of a healthy ageing model, presentations at international scientific conferences, appointment to national and state aged care advisory roles, adjunct teaching positions with SA Universities, participation in expert panel with Alexandre Kalache and winning 10 national better practice awards for the delivery of healthy ageing in residential aged care. Jo provides leadership, theoretical knowledge, research transfer into practice and drives cultural change to enable implementation of healthy ageing services.

Nagaire Hobbins, Specialist Dietitian in Ageing, Aged Care Consultant, Ngaire Hobbins Dietetics, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Nagaire Hobbins is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with a widely varied career, specialising in gerontology, aged care, brain health and dementia in the past two decades. Her passion lies in helping all older people enjoy independent, productive and fulfilling lives in their later years, whether they live in their own homes or in assisted care. Primarily a clinician, she especially relishes opportunities to translate complex science into language and sensible, practical advice for everyday people. Her two successful books: Eat To Cheat Ageing and Eat To Cheat Dementia, alert older people to their unique nutrition needs and how they combine with activity to avoid malnutrition-related physical and mental decline. Ngaire is an engaging, informative speaker to professional and non-professional audiences, an outspoken advocate for age-friendly communities and active ageing strategies.

Dr. Tim Henwood, PhD, Principal, AgeFit Solutions, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Dr. Tim Henwood is an aged care consultant and special population exercise physiologist with a specific interest in older adults with complex healthcare needs accessing age care services. He has extensive experience in the assessment of muscle physiology and functional capacity, and the design and delivery of programmes to improve physical wellbeing and reduce disability. Dr. Henwood is the lead academic on an Australian Government Department of Health supported investigation of the impact of progressive resistance plus balance training on health service utilisation and an alternative model of care among community-dwelling adults with government supported aged care packages.