From the Director of Nursing

Welcome to the start of The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.

I am delighted that at last the spotlight will shine on healthy and positive ageing, rather than the usual stereotypes of old age. Health is central to our experience of older age and the opportunities that ageing brings. I see this every day at Liscombe House where residents come together in groups to discuss current affairs, connect with their families and volunteers, enjoy brain games, creative arts therapy, music and light exercise.

In all our villages, residents play a critical role in running a range of activities from Tai Chai through to singing, from art workshops through to book clubs, and volunteering in the villages and the community. All of this is done in between catching up with family, friends, visiting galleries, museums to say nothing of cooking and running a home. The idea that ‘old’ means doing nothing could not be further from the truth.

This decade seeks to change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing; facilitate the ability of older people to participate in and contribute to their communities and society; deliver integrated care and primary health services that are responsive to the needs of the individual; and provide access to long-term care and housing for older people who need it; as well as campaigns and laws to end elder abuse, loan sharks and the many other insidious practices that affect older people.

Here at OCAV we are working through the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Age Care Quality & Safety which have just been released. We will be working with others in the sector to make sure that this Commission is acted upon and does not end gathering dust as the many previous reviews have done.

This year the global UN Women theme for International Women’s Day on 8 March is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future. The slogan this year is #ChooseToChallenge.

While women bear the brunt of problems ranging from poverty to climate change, they also possess assets and talents to solve them. We see this each day at Old Colonists’ Association of Victoria where our staff, volunteers and residents regularly come up with solutions to constraints or problems. This newsletter showcases just a few stories about our amazing women residents, volunteers and staff. I hope you enjoy reading them.

This International Women’s Day may I encourage everyone to wear clothes coloured Green, White or Violet (purple) in recognition of the suffragettes and their commitment to Giving Women the Vote. Today these colours are emblematic of this important day for all women everywhere, and a great way to recognise the contribution of women to our community.