Seminars in Ageing: Online launch of the final report "What do older people want from their health care?"

Chairperson: Associate Professor Frances Batchelor, NARI

Guest speaker: Mr Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians

Presenter: Dr Jessica Cecil, NARI

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About the presentation

Health and wellbeing support for older people should be informed by overarching consumer expectations, needs and priorities and adapted on a case-by-case basis to reflect person-centred practices. The “What do older people want from their health care?” (WDOPW) final  report establishes an evidence base that describes what older Victorians want when they seek support for their health and wellbeing, and how these priorities change at different points in the care continuum. This project was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Health and designed to explore what older people consider important in relation to their health and wellbeing by focusing on 6 identified stages of ageing. These stages are in keeping with general trends across the life course for the general population: 

1.    Healthy and active ageing
2.    Managing multi-mobility and/or frailty in the community
3.    Healthcare in a crisis for sudden health issues
4.    Regaining independence after being unwell
5.    Needing specialist aged care support
6.    Requiring end of life care

Overall, the findings of this project support a case for more integrated care for older people to create a system-wide approach that works to address the demands arising from an ageing population. The findings of this research have been provided to the Victorian Department of Health and will be useful in informing the development of future healthcare policy in Victoria, ensuring that it is receptive to the changing needs of older Victorians.

About the presenter

Gerard Mansour is a highly respected and passionate advocate for the needs of older people. In 2013, Mr Mansour was appointed as the first ever Commissioner for Senior Victorians to provide advice to the Victorian Government on issues relevant to senior Victorians. In 2016 Mr Mansour’s role was expanded to include acting as an Ambassador for Elder Abuse Prevention to give older victims of family violence a voice and raising community awareness of elder abuse. Mr Mansour’s current priorities include isolation and loneliness of older people, prevention and response to elder abuse and what it means to age well. His report “Ageing well in a changing world” was launched in November 2020.

Dr Jessica Cecil is a Research Fellow within the Aged Care Division at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), and project manager of the “What do older people want from their health care?” (WDOPW) project. Dr Cecil has lead the project since its inception in 2018 and is now very proud to be presenting the final report. Her research interests include; healthy ageing, continence care in residential aged care homes, health and wellbeing in remote Aboriginal communities and microbiology and immunology in aged care settings.

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Further information: [email protected]