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AGED

Legal definitions

The terms ‘elderly’ and ‘aged’ mean people of the aged of 65 years

Source -(Caring for the elderly – an overview of aged care support and services in Australia: Parliamentary Library)

Social definitions

Those aged 65yrs and over that are considered financially and physically dependant (use of external resources) and stereotypically less mobile in regards to their physical capabilities.

|Need |Why is this a Priority Need |Examples |

|Access to Services |Barriers of mobility and transport, money and knowledge of new/improved |Meals on Wheels: special menus to support cultural groups |

| |services available |Home and Community Care Program: transport services |

|Financial Support |Retirement (may mean the need of the pension), to fund |Centrelink Aged Pension: those above 65.5 years old |

| |medications/doctors/pharmaceuticals |NSW Seniors Card: For those who are 65+. Provides |

| | |entitlements for discounts |

|Health |Due to decreased mobility |Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: Safety Net |

| |Increase of health issues – fragility ie arthritis / heart disease |BreastScreen NSW: Free 2 year screen for women between ages |

| | |of 50 and 69 |

|Sense of Identity |Having a purpose or goal, new hobbies or socialising. Their sense of |Volunteer work: Salvation Army or Saint Vincent de Paul |

| |identity may also decrease as a result of a partners death or leaving the|Joining Community Groups: PROBUS |

| |workforce (decrease in socio emotional wellbeing) | |

|Security and Safety |To maintain their economic, socio emotional and physical health and |Financial Security from Aged Pension: Provided by Centrelink|

| |wellbeing. |Aged Care Australia Home modification: Make a home safer to |

| | |travel around |

Characteristics:

• 65+ years and over.

• Have varying physical and mental capabilities

• Increase in aged population to 13.3% since 1988.

• More knowledge, skills and experiences

• Majority are retired and receive pension

Factors affecting resources:

• Age:

o Age is a determining factor in accessing resources from government and non-government sources. An individual’s age determines their eligibility for allowances such as; the aged pension, certain types of health insurance, seniors cards, entry into certain groups – eg lions club. etc.

• Education:

o The aged have limited opportunities for education. This group may experience difficulty accessing resources because they are either unaware of them, or unable to access them (illiterate, unable to use technology). The knowledge they have is often irrelevant to fulfilling their current needs. Few will have received additional education.

• Socio-economic status:

o Variety of levels of socioeconomic status among the aged. Some who are financially secure, and can therefore choose the resources they wish to access. Some who are financially secure but rely on some financial assistance in the form of a supplementary pension. Some rely entirely on the aged pension from the government to live from week to week. Socioeconomic status determines the quality and type of resources the individual has access to e.g. private health cover, private transportation etc.

• Location:

o It is beneficial for the aged to be located close to hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, grocery stores and other services they require regularly to prevent long journeys, especially as many elderly people do not drive, and many may have ill-health preventing them from walking easily, seeing, hearing, or being comfortable within the community. Those living in rural areas may also require different resources than those living in the city.

Societal Attitudes towards the group:

Society has many attitudes in relation to the aged. There are many different groups within society and many have negative stereotyped views towards the aged.

The negative views towards the aged include:

• That the elderly are associated with needs; incapacity and loss of independence.

• They put strain upon resources, as they have high health and support needs

• Many believe that the aged are a burden to society and they are often perceived as an inconvenience

• May be viewed as frustrating due to their lack of mobility and their greater need for assistance and care by both their family and other organisations and groups.

• Many people perceive the aged to be ill and sick, especially the younger children.

However, there are positive views about the aged also. These include:

• They are mature as they have had many life experiences that have helped shape them and have contributed to their knowledge.

• Many respect the aged as they have a acquired much wisdom and knowledge

• They have contributed greatly to society in the past and so now it is society’s responsibility to contribute back to them (paying taxes)

• Many of the aged baby-sit their grandchildren or volunteer as a charity worker – in these cases, the aged are seen as positive individuals in society.

Conflict between group and community interests:

• The expectations and demands of the aged well exceed the community’s ability to pay. In monetary terms they are large users of services but in most cases do not contribute to the funding. This creates strain on the community.

• There is often conflict on the road with the youth and the elderly as health issues such as poor co-ordination and eyesight limitations contributing their motor skills. While Aged people want to keep their independence, other people feel that they should be off the road. Older people due to driving at a lower speed often have conflict with younger people due to their increased speed. This can cause frustration in both groups when travelling on the road.

• The older generation has different values about what is acceptable behaviour. For example the aged go to bed earlier and are thus less tolerant of noises late at night. Many aged people still believe the values that they were taught during their youth such as attitudes to sexuality and religion. They are more conservative so therefore many of their values conflict with the behaviour of people today

• Caring for someone may interrupt the carers lifestyle and can cause frustration for the carer and to care at the best of their ability

• In the workplace the aged may be replaced by those who are younger due to their knowledge of technology, having new and exciting ideas and don’t need to be paid as much. They are also more mobile for those jobs that require physical exertion.

Community responsibility

The community has many responsibilities in relation to the aged. They have a responsibility to:

▪ Not exploit or mislead the age due to their vulnerability.

▪ To encourage their independence, individuality and dignity.

▪ To be tolerant and patient.

▪ To educate the younger generations and themselves about the needs of the aged and in general become more educated as a society in order to develop a positive view of the aged.

▪ To give opportunities for the elderly to be recognised for their skills and talents.

▪ To not discriminate against them based on age.

▪ To ensure access of the elderly to all facilities and services e.g ramps, wheel chair access, disabled toilets.

▪ Inform them of the available services.

▪ Provide education and aid them with technology.

▪ Ensure their safety on the road - reduce road rage.

▪ Help them to feel respected and valued by using positive language when referring to the aged.

▪ To treat aged person as an individual not stereotype them into one group.

▪ The aged lose a lot of power in the community due to the lack of responsibilities. The community have many responsibilities to look after and to make sure the needs of the aged are met.

▪ To be open to their ideas and opinions.

▪ To not have preconceived ideas about their capabilities.

Some community members join service groups to fulfill their perceived responsibility to the aged. They can fulfill their responsibility through community programs such as the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Smith Family and St Vincent De Paul Society. All of which function on volunteers in this case providing emergency assistance in the form of food, clothing, accommodation, transport ad support support. While some of these community groups are funded by the government they are not possible without the community volunteers. Programs such as ‘Meals on Wheels’ make it possible for an essentially healthy person to remain in their home and still maintain social contact. It provides aged pensioners adequate meals.

Rights of the Group

The “Aged” population share many similar rights to other population groups these include:

▪ A right to a safe place to live.

▪ A right to adequate social security, assistance and protection.

▪ A right to independence and dignity.

▪ A right to be shown respect and feel valued.

▪ Access to food water shelter clothing health care through community support and help.

▪ Work regardless of age.

▪ Access education & training programs.

▪ Serve as volunteers in community.

▪ Form organisations to interact with other aged people.

▪ Access social & legal services.

▪ Privacy.

▪ Access cultural spiritual recreational resources.

▪ Live in dignity, security, free from physical mental abuse.

▪ The human right to freedom from discrimination based on age or any other status, in all aspects of life including employment and access to housing, health care, and social services.

▪ The human right to protection from neglect and all types of physical or mental abuse.

▪ The human right to full and active participation in all aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life of society.

▪ The human right to full and effective participate in decision-making concerning their well-being.

▪ To quality care that is appropriate to their needs.

▪ To full information about his or her own state of health and about available treatments.

▪ To move freely both within and outside the residential care service without undue restriction.

▪ To select and maintain social and personal relationships with any other person without fear, criticism or restriction.

▪ To maintain control over, and to continue making decisions about, the personal aspects of his or her daily life, financial affairs and possessions.

However the there are also specific needs that are important to the wellbeing of “the aged”. These can be broken down into three main categories: protection, participation and image. Protection refers to securing the physical, psychological and emotional safety of elderly persons with regard to their unique vulnerability to abuse and ill treatment. Participation refers to the need to establish a greater and more active role for older persons in society.

Image refers to the need to define a more positive, less degrading and discriminatory idea of who elderly persons are and what they are capable of doing. Regional intergovernmental organisations in particular have begun to deal with these categories of rights in some detail in their recommendations and treaties.

An elderly persons ‘right to security’ is particularly vulnerable to violation. For example, a component of the right to security is the ‘right to healthcare’ if one, due to old age, is unable to afford or pursue healthcare on one’s own. Although many countries currently have universal healthcare systems, these systems are beginning to feel the strain of an increasingly aged population, and there is some question about how these systems will be maintained in the future. In other countries, like the United States, where there are only federally and state-subsidised healthcare programs for those who are indigent, disabled or elderly, rising healthcare costs are threatening the survival of these systems. These rights are related to the right to an adequate standard of living’, which is often affected in the case of the elderly, due to lack of an adequate support system for them.

Elderly individuals also have the ‘right to non-discrimination’. Elderly people should not be thought of as useless to society simply because some of them may need more care than the average person. These stereotypes of the elderly can lead to degrading treatment, inequality and, sometimes, abuse.

Similarly, elderly persons ‘right to participation’ is sometimes threatened due to prevailing negative images societies hold of the aged. The aged are often not given the same opportunities as others to be productive members of society. Governments are obliged to aid in creating a more positive image of the abilities and strengths of older populations as well as solid opportunities for elderly people to participate in the ongoing creation of their societies. The elderly’s ‘right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment’ is also often threatened. People sometimes take advantage of the vulnerability of elderly persons. People in old age, particularly older women, are often victims of neglect and physical and psychological abuse. Additionally, elderly refugees during humanitarian crises often fall victim to the torture and abuse that is sometimes inflicted upon civilian populations.

Government policies and regulations.

There are many government policies, regulations and agencies that are put in place to help support the aged and their needs.

• Support at home (personal care, domestic support, meals and home maintenance). This could include things like ‘Meals on Wheels’ and services like these are put in place to ensure regulations enforced by the government concerning the health and consistent wellbeing of the aged population are met. For example, and aged citizen may be able to live independently, but due to arthritis may have difficulty with fine motor skills, and therefore have trouble preparing regular meals. This is where support services such as Meals on Wheels helps out.

• Discounted transport. The government often has policies regarding discounts for the aged population, and discounted transport is an example of this. The aged often have limited finances and therefore need to save money wherever they can, therefore the government allows for discounts on the use of public transport for the aged.

• Anti discrimination acts. In NSW, it is against the law to be treated unfairly, be harassed or discriminated against you in any way because of your age.

• Community nursing and allied health services. Community nursing homes are there to support people of the elderly population who can no longer live independently in their own homes, who need medical attention and cannot afford private nursing home accommodation. This government regulation has been put in place to ensure the overall wellbeing for these people.

• The aged population needs to be financially secure before retiring so maintain their financial security during the later years of their life and government policies and regulations help this. This can be recognised through the seniors discount card, pension payments, compulsory superannuation and Centrelink support.

• Pension payments help the aged to have a regular source of income from the government to cover their basic living needs.

• Compulsory superannuation was introduced to ensure the aged had enough savings to cover the cost of everyday living, including basic needs such as food and shelter, as well as the growing cost of medical care.

• Seniors tax offset. The senior’s tax offset allows for the aged population to pay considerably less tax as they do not have a regular substantial source of income.

• Centrelink administers significant forms of financial support for the age. Through this, pensioners can receive discounts on transport, car registration, telephone, gas, electricity and water rates, health services, medications and rental payments.

• The senior’s card provides the elderly members of the Australian populations with government concessions and discounts, allowing for more money to be spent on everyday needs, such as health care.

• PBS – Once they reach the safety net (certain amount of money) they will not pay more than $5.40 per script.

Government programs to assist the aged;

• Home and Community Care (HACC) program helps the aged to ensure they do not enter aged care facilities or nursing homes because of a lack of somewhere easier to live, and to make sure they do not enter these facilities prematurely. This program helps to foster independence and guide elderly people on how to live independently and secure a home.

• The government also provides residential aged care, whereby accommodation and support is provided to elderly people who can no longer live by themselves or in their current home.

• The Transition Care Program (TCP) provides care and restorative services for the aged after hospital stays.

• Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) is aimed prolonging the time elderly Australians can safely and happily stay living in their own home.

• National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) aims at helping carers of the aged through respite services.

• DVA programs (programs for ageing veterans)

Issues of Concern

• Health

• Financial support

• Safety

• Social Connection

• Lack of purpose

• Stereotypes – Incapable of being independent and/or a valued worker.

Because of their age and gradually deteriorating health, “the aged” are often deemed to be incapable of taking care of themselves. It is a huge concern that the aged population lack any kind of a social connection to the people, or the community that they’re surrounded with.

The idea that as people age they lose their purpose and/or meaning in life is an overwhelming concern, for it is typically this aspect that drives them to fight for their life and to make the most of it. Without this driving force, many aged people lack the motivation to live day-to-day and carry on as though nothing has changed. For this reason many elderly people seek volunteer work or part-time employment to enrich their life and achieve a sense of fulfilment.

Safety in “the aged” population is an overarching concern for this priority group as it poses a risk to their physical and mental state particularly in today’s society where the aged population are being targeted because they’re stereotyped to be an easy target.

Financial support is also an important factor that contributes to the quality of the aged population’s lives. Without this financial support many of these people will be unable to live because most of them depend on welfare and/or pension payments to survive and pay for their living requirements and the purchase of necessities (food, water, housing etc).

Health – Decreases their ability to take care to of themselves and to perform daily tasks. They may be prone illness and injury so may need more medications / treatment / medical intervention which costs money which they may not have a lot of.

Positive Contributions the Aged makes to society include the possession of lifetime knowledge which may be shared through communities, schools, libraries. The aged knows and knew the value of hard labour. The aged lived through world wars, depression and famine. One of the greatest positive contributions the aged has made to community includes our lives. For the members of the aged community that welcome things such as retirement and are still mobile may start giving back to the community by becoming a volunteer within a local charity. Other organisations who value the help of the aged include hospitals, where the aged may be able to comfort those who are sick, and accompany many patients who are lonely. Schools where the aged can volunteer and teach young children how to read and church groups that may require members for a local choir or Sunday school teachers.

Power: The possession of influence over others and the authority to dictate the actions of yourself and others.

Power within the group and community:

The aged: the aged population holds respect from younger generations due to their amount of knowledge and experience. This is because it may be passed down to generations like youth and manipulated to aid their endeavours.

The aged don’t stereotypically hold specific power amongst the community though different people and groups rely upon them. They are required when knowledge and experience are needed to undertake a specific task e.g. fundraising.

Power within the group.

- Health status

- Money

- Employment

- Mobility

- Education

- Social status

- Experience

- Skills

The aged

Centrelink is the major provider for services helping the aged, such as:

Age Pension

if you have reached retirement age, the Age Pension ensures you have an

adequate income in your retirement. To qualify for Age Pension, you must first satisfy the age and residence requirements. Centrelink then works out how much Age Pension is payable. This depends on your income and assets and other circumstances.

The individual gets a fortnightly payment, depending on these circumstances

senior supplement

the Seniors Supplement assists In helping to pay regular bills such as energy, rates, phone and motor vehicle registration fees.

To qualify for this the individual must:

- hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card[1]

-have provided details of a bank account into which the payment can be made

-are in Australia or temporarily absent for a period not exceeding 13 weeks.

Medicare Australia

Medicare Australia administers more than $7 billion worth of aged care payments annually to approved providers across a range of residential, community and flexible Aged Care programs.

Medicare Australia is responsible for the processing and payment of:

• residential aged care subsidies and associated supplements for high-level and low-level residential care

• residential respite care subsidies and associated supplements for short-term high-level and low-level residential care

• community aged care package subsidies to support people with low-level complex health needs and their carers

• flexible aged care subsidies including:

o extended aged care at home subsidies to support people with high-level complex health needs and their carers

o extended aged care at home dementia subsidies to provide dementia specific support to people with high-level complex health needs and their carers

o Transition care subsidies for short-term rehabilitation care to recipients after care in hospital.

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