Supporting Decision Making Capacity
In February 2015, following a successful trial with major Australian banks, Capacity Australia released a simple online education and assessment tool to up-skill frontline bank staff about potential red flags for financial abuse of older people and what to do if they identify abuse. The development and trial of this tool was supported by the Australian Bankers’ […]
On 3rd December 2023, the UN’s International Day of People with Disability, we would like to congratulate to Dr Ming Loh, Geriatrician, as the recipient of the Inaugural PEISAH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE AWARD. Governments, organisations and individuals use terms like ‘Human Rights approach’ in strategies and documentation but too often the words stay […]
The International Psychogeriatrics Associations Advocacy and Public Awareness Committee have submitted an open letter to the United Nations General Assembly’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing for the Purpose of Strengthening the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons (OEWGA). The letter with 223 signatories, including Capacity Australia, from 62 different countries was sent on September […]
Featuring in the Australian Journalism on Ageing by Capacity Australia’s Carmelle Peisah, Tiffany Jessop and Juanita Breen examine the Capacity Australia’s Carmelle Peisah, Tiffany Jessop and Juanita Breen examine the Principles and accompanying Explanatory Statement in light of best practices around consent and use of chemical and physical restraint from the new Quality of Care […]
Watch a replay of the “Positive Mental Health, Positive Ageing” forum presented by Carmelle Pesiah in November 2020. MORE READING
Currently it is estimated that between two and 14 per cent of older Australian experience abuse in any given year and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is being indicated by a number of peak bodies and advocacy organisations that these disgraceful numbers are worsening. Read the article from Dr Kay Patterson AO, Australia’s Age Discrimination […]
In collaboration with INTERDEM, the International Psychogeriatrics Association (IPA) brought together international speakers including Capacity Australia’s Prof. Carmelle Peisah in a live, 90-minute webinar focusing on geriatric mental health, the impact of social distancing on social health and functioning of the elderly. Click the links below to view the webinar and a number of additional resources […]
In May 2020, The United Nations released “Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons”. The brief outlines the immediate and long term responses needed for action and recommendations against the range of particular risks presented to the older population. Ensuring that difficult health-care decisions affecting older people are guided by a commitment to […]
“This is the first pandemic to occur since the global population consisted of more people aged over sixty-five than under five” – Andrew Scott, co-author of The 100-Year Life. With a focus on the elderly within media, social media and COVID-19 health care guidelines, the narrative of what it is like to be elderly during […]
INTRODUCTION: Oluwatoyin (Deji) Sorinmade is a Capacity Australia collaborator and Old Age Psychiatrist from the UK. HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES COVID-19 HAS POSED TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (ECHR) Highlighting some of the challenges COVID-19 has posed to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Oluwatoyin A. Sorinmade, Consultant Older Adults Psychiatrist, […]
On May 6 the UN Secretary-General announced that fatality rate for COVID-19 for people over 80-years-old being five times the global average. A new policy initiative was also announced to address challenges faced by the elderly during and after the pandemic. “Pervasive gerontophobia, the fear of age-related self-degeneration and death, nurtures prejudice against older people, […]
In addition to a greater risk of serious and life-threatening complications from COVID-19 infection, ageism, discriminatory attitudes and action are also threatening older people’s rights as some governments place restrictions on freedom of movement based on age. This extreme social isolation can result in “severe, even life-threatening, physical and mental health conditions, including cognitive decline.” […]
Prior to COVID-19 lockdowns at aged care facilities, Maurie Voisey-Barlin visited facilities as a creative therapeutic engagement specialist. Part of his role included provoking responses from residents with his cheeky manner. With lockdowns coming into effect, Maurie and the facilities he serviced, found themselves working together on a creative way for the residents to continue […]
INTRODUCTION: On May 1, 2020, Aged Services announced the development in consultation with the public, a “COVID-19 Residential Care Visitor Access Code”. Aimed to “facilitate safe and regular communication between residents and their family, family of choice or friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, while minimising the risk of its introduction to a residential care home”. As […]
Submissions from aged care providers and people who receive aged care services and their families who are affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are being encouraged to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Collecting information and looking into the impact of the virus on aged care, a final report will be prepared […]
IDuring the COVID-19 pandemic ageist attitudes have been surfacing. Read the response from EveryAGE Counts for their “campaigning for a world without ageism, where all people are valued, respected or connected regardless of age or functional ability”. Source: Ageism in the time of COVID-19 2020, EveryAGE Counts, viewed 4 April 2020, <https://www.everyagecounts.org.au/ageism_in_the_time_of_covid_19> Image source: EveryAGE Counts MORE READING
Introduction A call for action to come back and join the fight against COVID-19 has been issued to retired doctors around the world (CBS News, 2020). Many have responded to this call and have returned, or will return to the workforce. Conversely, some late-career doctors who are in practice are anxious about their risk and are […]
Limitations on visitors to aged care facilities announced in response to the threat of COVID-19 and additional “voluntary lockdown” restrictions many aged care facilities have imposed can do more harm than good, cutting older people off from family and social connections. Read the full article about some of the hidden ramifications of lockdowns and the […]
“Less than two months ago, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit the earth like a comet. In that short time, we have had to adjust to a new world. Public health social distancing measures have shut down our sources of pleasure and imposed unprecedented losses. We have concerns about our own welfare, that of our families, and […]
I work in Dementia care research and manage human rights charity Capacity Australia. I have long been aware of the major problem we have treating our elders with the care and respect they deserve, so clearly evidenced by the ongoing Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Despite this, I am still shocked by […]