Innovative Ageing conference comes at “crucial time”

The event, hosted by South Australian service provider AvantiCare, covered topics such as intergenerational care, comprehensive exercise, rehabilitation programs, virtual therapy, and Montessori and dementia – all of which were on the table as ways to improve the lives of the elderly.

Managing Director of AvantiCare, Lidia Conci, says the conference, which was streamed online so anyone across the globe could tune in, was the “first step” in helping to improve the ways services are delivered to the aged care sector, allowing the elderly to continue living a healthy and enjoyable life “right up to their last breath”.

She says the event was a platform for industry leaders and representatives to share ideas, collaborate and offer information collected from their own research and innovation studies from a central location.

“This is all about breaking the mould, demonstrating that there is a better way to do aged and residential care, that it is in fact possible to create better conditions,” she says.

“The elderly should not be treated as bags of bones, but rather as beautiful human beings who deserve the best quality of life right up until they draw their very last breath.”

Ms Conci adds that the conference came at a critical time of change and transition in the industry and as the State and Federal Governments continue to roll out their reforms within the sector and as elections loom.

“There have been a lot of negative perceptions for some time now about the aged care industry and we believe this needs to change in order for government and other decision-makers to start redirecting funding and resources towards more positive approaches for residents,” she says.

“I believe that there has never been a better time to be in aged care as many new reforms begin to shake things up, and pioneers of change start to emerge, determined to make a difference.

“For too long our elderly have been considered a burden on society and are institutionalised in clinical, hospital style homes when they are no longer able to care for themselves.”

A number of guest speakers took to the stage, including SummitCare Chief Executive Officer  (CEO) Cynthia Payne, the Dignity Party’s Kelly Vincent, and Glenview CEO Lucy O’Flaherty who discussed their Korongee development in Tasmania.