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A Reflection on Perth – 2015 Conference Highlights

IAHSA’s 11th Bi-Annual Conference was, by all accounts, a big success. With the theme of “Global Communities Coming Together”, over 800 delegates from around the world converged on Perth to tackle some of the thorniest issues in aged care and services and to commit to working together to solve them.

Katie Smith Sloan, Executive Director of IAHSA, and John Kelly, CEO of ACSA opened the conference, urging delegates to take advantage of the shared learning and the opportunity to connect with peers and colleagues from around the world. Sloan reminded delegates of our shared purpose – to ensure and enable the highest quality of life possible for those in their later life.

Dr. Robyn Stone kicked off the conference with the admonition that workforce challenges bring us together. “There is no demographic change in the history of the world that is more significant than ageing.” Because we are a service-enriched field, “our human capital will make or break us.”  Later in the conference,  the front line workforce was described as the “x factor” suggesting that it is our responsibility to invest in front line staff.  Dr. Stone acknowledged that aged care is undervalued in the entire developed world and it is our responsibility to demonstrate how valuable a profession it is. To improve the experience of ageing, we need to improve recruitment to aged care; retention of employees; increase productivity and support family caregivers. There was considerable emphasis on skills for care, as social care will always be a people business.

Speakers throughout the conference spoke about the opportunities presented by ageing societies. Robert Lippiatt from Southern Pacific Consulting Group spoke about competition in the aged care marketplace and suggested that by 2020 the sector will look completely different. He urged providers to ask themselves, “what business am I in?” Glenn Rappensberg  from Novita Children’s Services in Tasmania shared the framework for growth that has guided his organization: 1) defend and extend current core businesses; 2) build momentum around emerging new businesses (new ideas, build capacity) and 3) create options for future business – a longer term horizon.

The “nursing home of the future” in Aalbourg, Denmark was featured, designed to motivate movement, stimulate senses and foster inclusion. It serves as a living laboratory in Denmark for issues related to how people age. The dementia village in The Netherlands, Hogeway was also presented. The philosophy at the village is to create an environment where “residents can live as usual with lifestyle.” One of the pillars for quality of life at the village is to create favorable surroundings. Life at the village has a “normal human scale.”

A philosophy about humanity to others from South Africa inspired delegates. Ubuntu, meaning “I am what I am because of who we all are” drives a commitment to connectedness in aged care. Rayne Stroebel of Geratec and Sister Lucia, manager of St. Antoine’s in Wasbank, described ageing in South Africa. 2% of South Africans receive formal long term care. Of these, 98% are white. A staggering  97% of non-white caregivers have no water, no education and no electricity. Furthermore, among the nine indigenous languages in South Africa, there is no word for dementia.  This is in sharp contrast to the richness of the developed world.

The promise of technology to address loneliness in old age was explored. Kevin Doughtey from the Centre for Usable Home Technologies in the U.K. referred to technologies to overcome “pajama paralysis” to foster engagement and interaction. Markus Leser from Curaviva in Switzerland spoke about technology as a tool to connect generations. He suggested that intergenerational language is a common language across the globe.

Meredith Wyse from HelpAge International suggested that IAHSA and HelpAge can lead the world in creating societies that are very inclusive of older people.  The 28 workshops focused on the new mandate in Australia around consumer-directed care, operations and management, global communities, design, research and leadership.

IAHSA launched its Leadership Retreat, a 2 ½ day leadership development program for 24 “fellows” from around the world. Focused on leadership attributes, self awareness, and leadership experiences, the fellows were grateful for the experience, eager to practice what they learned and insistent on staying connected to their new peer group of fellow leaders.

The IAHSA Applied Research Forum, led by Julienne Meyer of City University of London, focused on research translated into practice around dementia care, with an emphasis on Australia. It was clear to all that there are wide gaps in research and in putting findings into practice.

The camaraderie, the opportunity to connect globally and the valuable content created a dynamic environment, enhanced by the energy and enthusiasm of our Australian partners and hosts from ACSA.

Implementing the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons: A Call for Action

By Taryn Patterson

On September 3rd, 2015 a series of experts and human rights leaders addressed the plenary session of a convening charged with outlining actionable steps to implement the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. The event was held at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Washington D.C., in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

On June 15th, 2015, the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, which was subsequently signed by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay. This action made the Americas the first region in the world to have an instrument for the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons.

Given the fact that older persons (aged 60+) in the Americas currently make up approximately 14% of the hemisphere’s population, and this proportion is set to rise to approximately 25% by the year 2050, the human rights of older persons is an urgent focus of the OAS. As Sandra Huenchuan, Ageing Specialist with ECLAC, noted “equality is a value, right, and objective, but ageing equality is often invisible and outside the policy agendas of decision-makers.”

To this end, the Convention will be useful for:

  • The promotion and development of policies and legislation to promote the full exercise of human rights by older persons;

  • Removing stigma towards older persons and preventing social isolation;

  • Preventing discriminatory practices in public and private institutions;

  • Creating positive images of ageing; and

  • Creating a greater awareness of the many contributions that older persons make to society.

The objectives for the September 2015 convening in Washington D.C. were to:

  • Bring together key stakeholders to discuss the new framework on active ageing established by Convention;

  • Propose five actionable strategies for implementing the Convention at the regional, national, and local levels;

  • Facilitate the sharing of information and data on ageing and human rights issues; and

  • Outline steps to disseminate the Convention, along with academic materials, with a particular emphasis on training tools to aid in implementation.

Dr. Enrique Vega (far right), Unit Chief, Healthy Life Course, Department of Family, Gender, and Life Course, PAHO/WHO, moderates a panel on full inclusion, integration, and participation of older persons.

PAHO, the OAS, and the ECLAC called upon stakeholders to take the following five actions to facilitate the implementation of the Convention:

  1. Disseminate the Convention via mechanisms that will promote eventual governmental ratification.

  2. Support governments in undertaking a review of existing and new policies, plans, and laws with regard to the human rights of older persons.

  3. Strengthen the inclusion of older persons within the work of Inter-American and United Nations agencies by making sure their programs and policies address issues faced by older persons.

  4. Facilitate training initiatives for governmental and legislative authorities, healthcare workers, and other key social organizations on how the framework of the Convention can help to meet the human rights and needs of older persons.

  5. Encourage collaboration between national initiatives and civil society organizations to build capacity on ageing issues and foster greater access to care and resources that older persons need.

The general consensus is that we must move beyond non-binding instruments to a binding document that ensures the protections of older persons, particularly within areas such as access to non-discriminatory comprehensive care including palliative care, violence against older populations, and continued recognition of elder contributions to society. According to the Director of PAHO, Dr. Carissa Etienne, we must “encourage international communities, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and governments across the globe to collaborate in order to build capacity on ageing issues”. She added “next steps must be to disseminate the convention and encourage governmental ratification”.

Although the Resolution was passed, it was not endorsed by Canada and the United States. Its future ratification would carry the obligation of State parties to adopt measures to respect, promote, and ensure the human rights of older persons in all spheres of society. For the Convention to enter into official force it is necessary that at least two signatory countries ratify it.

To get to this point, however, we must move beyond talking points and take action.

WHO Requests Public Feedback on Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing

The World Health Organization (WHO) is requesting public consultation on Draft zero of the “Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health”. The consultation seeks feedback from individuals and institutions with an interest in fostering healthy and active ageing worldwide.

Input from this effort will be used towards the development of Draft 1 “Global Strategy and Action Plan” agreement.  The aim of the consultation is to gain insight and recommendations on 5 strategic objectives:

  1. Commitment to foster healthy ageing in every country.

  2. Aligning health systems to the neees of older populations

  3. Developing long-term care systems

  4. Creating age-friendly environments

  5. Improving measuring, monitoring and understanding

Contributors can provide comment on all 5 strategic objectives or only the one(s) of personal/professional interest. The comments will be used towards developing Draft 1 of the agreement, which will be discussed in Geneva on 29-30 October 2015.

The consultation period is open from 28 August through 30 October 2015.

For more information or to contribute your thoughts and insights towards this very important initiative, click here.

How 9 Providers Around the World Expanded into Home and Community-Based Services

A new report from the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) explores how 9 providers of aging services in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia expanded their business lines to include the provision of home and community-based services (HCBS).

Residential Provider Expansion into Home and Community-Based Services is based on a qualitative study conducted by the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research (CFAR) and funded by Sodexo Quality of Life Services.

The providers featured in the report include nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), and a CCRC at Home (CCAH) program.

“We set out to examine how a diverse group of providers carried out successful expansions into HCBS,” says Natasha Bryant, senior research associate at CFAR. “Our study provides practical information that could help other providers plan and implement similar expansions.”

Different Programs, Common Themes

The CFAR research team completed case studies of 5 U.S. providers, 1 Canadian provider, 2 Australian providers, and 1 European provider.

The participating organizations differed in a number of ways, including the design of their current HCBS lines, the size of their workforces, the number of clients they served, and their primary payer sources.

“Despite these differences, organizations shared many of the same aspirations, faced common challenges, enjoyed similar benefits, and learned a variety of lessons during the expansion process,” says the report.

After conducting telephone interviews with all of the participating providers and site visits with 2 of the organizations, CFAR researchers wrote case studies describing:

  • How each HCBS program was developed and what it entails.

  • National or regional policies affecting the expansion into HCBS.

  • Financial implications of the expansion.

  • How providers addressed workforce issues in their HCBS programs.

  • How each HCBS program fit into or changed the organizational culture.

  • Program outcomes.

  • Perceived challenges.

  • Lessons learned during the expansion process.

The IAHSA report also explores a number of common themes that characterized the organizations’ experiences with the expansion process. For example, many providers in the study expanded into HCBS to serve more individuals and seek new revenue streams.

Participating providers also took common approaches to staffing and funding their programs, and faced common challenges regarding marketing, competition, workforce development, funding, and government policies.

Despite these challenges, however, providers cited many benefits associated with the diversification of their service lines, including:

  • Development of relationships between the provider and consumers early in the aging process.

  • An enhanced ability to fulfill their missions by reaching a greater percentage of the target population.A stronger financial picture for the organization.

  • The IAHSA report also highlights lessons learned that could help guide other providers planning a similar type of expansion.

Studying 9 Organizations

A total of 9 organizations participated in the Sodexo-funded study. Four organizations began as nursing homes:

  • Alterszentrum Viktoria in Bern, Switzerland, started providing home health care and limited non-medical home care to members of its external community in 2011. The organization’s small program currently serves 23 clients.

  • Feros Care in Queensland, Australia, expanded into HCBS in 2002-2003 and now delivers home health care, home care, telehealth, companionship, and other services to approximately 5,000 clients per year.

  • Isabella Geriatric Center in New York, NY, started its HCBS expansion in The organization now provides more than a million service hours per year of home health care, home care, adult day, and other services.

  • Tabitha Health Care in Lincoln, NE, began providing home health care in 1966 and home care in 1974. Each month, the organization delivers more than 10,000 service hours of home care, and serves an average of 254 home health clients.

Four organizations in the CFAR study began as continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) or CCRC-like entities, and later developed traditional HCBS service programs:

  • BallyCara Village of Friends in Queensland, Australia, expanded into HCBS in 2013 and now provides an average of 458 service hours to 200 external clients per month.

  • First Choice in Harrisonburg, VA, is a partnership of 3 CCRCs: Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Bridgewater Retirement Community, and Sunnyside Retirement Communities. The agency provides more than 4,000 service hours of home care per month and serves 65-70 home health clients per day.

  • Shepherd’s Care Foundation in Alberta, Canada, has been providing companionship, transportation services, and other home care services since September 2014. It now delivers more than 1,500 service hours per month to approximately 40 clients.

  • Well-Spring in Greensboro, NC, delivers 9,000 hours of home care per month to older people living in its CCRC and 1,000 hours of home care per month to older adults in the external community. Well-Spring’s adult day program serves approximately 200 clients each month.

One organization began as a CCRC and provides home and community-based services through a CCAH program:

  • Cadbury at Home in Cherry Hill, NJ, and Lewes, DE, established its CCAH program in 1998 that now provides a full range of services to its
200 members.

Sodexo quality services logo

Rubicon Senior Care Market Report: IAHSA Member Discount

IAHSA-China, the official chapter of the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) in China, and Rubicon Strategy Group are pleased to extend a special offer to IAHSA members.

The Rubicon China Senior Living Market Report combines 6 months of on-the-ground interviews with key stakeholders driving development at roughly 50 senior living sites and multiple home healthcare businesses. Included in the report are updates on new regulations specific to both senior housing and home healthcare, and sector-specific insights derived from years of experience identifying and brokering opportunities in this emerging industry. Coming in at over 200 pages, this report is a unique contribution to the senior living sector in China.

IAHSA members interested in this report are eligible for a 15% discount. To obtain your discount, visit the report web site and use the code iahsa0056 during the checkout process.

For more information contact info@iahsa-china.org.

HelpAge International Releases Global AgeWatch Index 2015

HelpAge International released its Global AgeWatch Index 2015 at the United Nations today.  The index draws on a number of data points to rank the best and worst countries in which to grow old. Switzerland ranked at the top this year, followed closely by Sweden, Germany and Canada. United States ranked 9th. At the bottom of the list, were Afghanistan, Malawi, and Mozambique.

There is a big gap is the number of countries in which information on the quality of life in old age is missing from the international data sets. The Index includes 96 countries, but is missing 98 for which the data is not available. This glaring gap comes at a time when the governments will sign up to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), goals which commit us to improving the wellbeing of the world’s population over the next 15 years. Ageing issues have been included in the SDG’s, a recognition of the significance of global ageing. This addition is welcomed by IAHSA.  Now, we need to work hard to make this commitment a reality.

Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference

Article credited to National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Moadieh Evangelical Center and Palm Village Retirement Community in California, USA organized the first Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference.  It took place on the 5th and 6th of September, 2015 in Larnaca Cyprus. Participants were managers of 12 different Lebanese long term care centers of diverse faiths all having one objective in mind, caring for seniors in Lebanon.

Lectures tackled different topics relating to senior care. The first day  lectures were  “Technologies to Support Older Adults and their Caregivers” by Majd Alwan Ph.D and  “Treatment of Diabetes Today & Tomorrow” By Paul Norwood MD. The second day lectures were “Collaboration, the Challenges and Possibilities” by Rick Stiffney Ph.D  and “Eldercare in Lebanon, where are we now and where are we headed?” by Joyce Khouri Eid BSN, MBA

Learning, sharing and participating in collaborative work was the greatest success in this conference.

We give thanks to all donors who made this conference a reality mainly Palm Village Retirement Community, Mennonite Health Services, Mennonite Central Committee, Leading Age California and many many others.

And again, Moadieh Evangelical Center proves to be a leader in its field.

 

Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference_2
Photo Credit: National Evangelical Church of Beirut, Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference, September 2015, Larnaca Cypress
Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference_3
Photo Credit: National Evangelical Church of Beirut Lebanese Interfaith Elder Care Conference, September 2015, Larnaca Cypress

 

The Language of Dementia

see-me-not-my-dementia“Words are powerful. The use of appropriate words can dramatically help to reshape attitudes, actions, and thoughts about people who are living with dementia. Rather than disrespecting and diminishing any person, all words used shoudl be supportive, respectful and life-affirming.”

This important reminder was the conclusion of the compelling report written by the Dementia Action Alliance in the U.S., “See Me Not My Dementia”.

The report includes a list of recommendated words, words to avoid and the rationale. It’s message is relevant for staff, caregivers, family members and the public at large.

Click here to read the report.

Member Spotlight: Wells of Hope, Nairobi Kenya

Wells of Hope, a community based organization, works in the Kibagare community in Nairobi, Kenya. Kibagare is a slum that is home to about 30,000 people, many of whom are elderly. Poverty is rampant and resources to provide housing a services are limited. Presently an over-crowded day center serves both elders and children.

Wells of Hope’s focus is on reducing elder abuse, skill buidling that can lead to financial empowerment and meal programmes. “As director,” Nancy Wagacha explained, “the mission of Well of Hope is to bring hope and to change the lives of the elderly living in disenfranchised communities like Kibagare…The importance of IAHSA is that there are policies and practices taht can be borrowed from developed countries to help developing countries.”

We welcome Wells of Hope to the IAHSA community and look forward to a shared learning experience that will ultimately positively affect the lives of the elderly in Kibagare.