Abstracts & Presentation Summaries - Department of Health

A final word on older elephants. A non-profit foundation called Retirement Sanctuary is setting-up
Australia's first elephant refuge for retired zoo and circus elephants. Arbu, GG and Tanya will be the
first residents.
Contact details
Kate Driscoll, RMIT University, – Ph: 613 9925 3693 – Fax: 613 9925 1087 –
E-mail: kate.driscoll@rmit.edu.au
Sue Hendy, Director of Organisational Development, Council on the Ageing Victoria
Beyond the Looking Glass
This paper attempts to examine the world of an ageing person and the way the
“aged care system” then attempts to deal with their needs, especially their social and
recreational needs. Thanks must go to David Hooker and Patricia Reeve for their
contribution to these ideas.
In thinking about ageing, my thoughts go to a concept of “I am who I am until other
people decide I am something else”. So what do I mean? Our society has developed a
notion of ageing, usually based on myth and stereotype, that at some point along the
life continuum sees older people as incompetent, physically frail and unable to carry
out decision making for themselves, to name a few. This in turn leads to those of us
working with older people to, at some level, take on these ideas and respond
accordingly.
Let me explain in more detail. Here I am, with a job, family responsibilities,
community involvement, leisure interests of varying kinds, and a range of social
networks and friendships. If I have a stroke, and am deemed to require some level of
services from the “aged care system”, I am examined from this service system
perspective, which maybe deemed as a looking glass, where distortions occur and
are seen as the reality, and the worker/service provider then redefines me and
responds.
The service system has been developed over time and can respond within its defined
“bag of tricks” which is pre-defined by policy and funding guidelines. So the
response I receive is what can be given, which may not match what is needed or
wanted. I will explore this concept further to illuminate what impact this has on
people’s lives and how as part of the service system we may need to think beyond
the looking glass.
A critique of the disability and aged sectors gives us insight into how the rights of
people in either category is different, and how we might learn from each other,
for the benefit of the consumer, and to assist us in better providing for the social and
recreational needs of these people. Language is a central aspect of this critique and
how it directly influences our mind and its constructs, attitudes and actions.
I will then attempt to explore the role of recreation in supporting individuals in
lifestyle and meaningful pursuit, as well as in supporting, building and/or
rebuilding an individuals social networks and friendships.
Finally I will explore what can be done as a worker in the field, to make sense of
these ideas in a way which enable participants in PAGs to participate to their fullest
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