A collection of wisdom

Imagine a book full of experience. One that’s full of home truths and pearls of wisdom.
 
From marriage advice to problem solving, care provider, Bupa Care Services and Carers Australia have collaborated to publish Fine Lines, a collection of quotes and advice from senior residents nationwide.
 
The joint initiative is a celebration of life experience and a reminder that older people can always offer invaluable wisdom.
 
“A little bit of powder and paint make the woman what she ain’t.” Joyce Sheehan aged 93
 
“Either we all matter or none of us do.” Lynette Williams aged 77
 
“Luck chooses those who are prepared.” Margaret Fleming aged 75
 
Bupa Care Services director of care, Leanne Morton, said the Fine Lines project was created to celebrate the rich life experiences of residents to ensure they are not just judged by the date on their birth certificates.
 
“What unites all our residents is their life knowledge. Frankly, there is no better qualification for offering life advice than experience,” she said.
 
“Every resident had a mother, was a teenager, and loved and lost. Many married, worked 60 hour weeks and paid their mortgages. We created this book because we wanted to celebrate all the life learnings from our residents.”
 
Featured in the book is 73-year-old Carmel Fraser from the Berwick facility in Victoria. She worked as a registered nurse for most of her life, however, it wasn’t until moving to the Bupa facility five years ago that she met the love of her life, marrying for the first time at 68 to 90-year-old resident John Fraser.
 
“Regard a crisis as an opportunity to move forward positively,” is Mrs Fraser’s contribution to the book.
 
Bupa Care director of clinical services, Dr Graham Stokes, said the book highlights that when looking back over life, it is love, friendship, family and self-respect that signify a life well-lived.
 
“The average age of contributors to this book is 84. By the time you reach this age what is important in life tends to crystallise,” Dr Stokes said.
 
“Today so much is made of differences between generations, with Baby Boomers and Gen Y living spheres apart. This book challenges that concept, revealing gems of truth which resonates across the generations.
 
“As we age our short-term memory may deteriorate but events from 40 years ago can come closer into focus. We decorate our care homes with memorabilia to encourage the flow of nostalgic stories and the enjoyment they bring to our residents and carers,” he said.
 
Carers Australia chief executive officer, Joan Hughes, said she was pleased to be involved with a project that highlighted the role of older people in society, and also involved family members and carers.
 
“I have heard some wonderful words of wisdom, words about patience and struggle, unconditional love, responsibility, acceptance, and living life to its fullest. I encourage people to share ‘Fine Lines’ with their families and communities, so that they will appreciate that with age truly does come wisdom,” she said.
 
To view an online version of Fine Lines, visit http://www.fine-lines.com.au