In 1970, there were 1 million older Australians over the age of 65, comprising just over 8% of the population. That has now jumped to more than 4.2 million people, making up 16% of the total Australian population. As our population continues to age, it becomes increasingly relevant to talk about how to age well and live not just a long life, but a positive and healthful life.
On Wednesday, 23 October, the Eastern Suburbs Older Persons’ Mental Health Service based at Prince of Wales Hospital, in partnership with Randwick City Council and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), will be hosting a forum at the Juniors in Kingsford. The event, ‘Thriving, Connecting and Ageing’, will focus on how to age well.
The free event, held from 10am to 1pm, features a series of experts in the field of positive ageing, including internationally-acclaimed clinician and researcher Professor Henry Brodaty AO, Honorary Medical Officer of the Older Persons’ Mental Health Service and Co-Director of CHeBA.
The theme of Professor Brodaty’s talk will focus on the importance of social connections for healthier brain ageing and how to foster them, giving attendees the tools to take control of their own health and ageing journey.
“To age positively and healthily, it is imperative that we embrace the journey of healthy ageing with optimism and enthusiasm – but also action,” says Professor Brodaty.
So what are the factors that contribute to positive ageing and what actions can individuals take? This is one of the key questions that will be addressed in a presentation by Dr Lindsay Wu, Senior Research Fellow at UNSW.
Other speakers include Professor of Clinical Psychology at Macquarie University’s Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre, Viviana Wuthrich, who will share practical strategies on how older adults can manage anxiety and low mood, and author and clinical psychologist Melissa Levi, specialist in older people's mental health and dementia, who will be speaking about balancing self-care with caregiving responsibilities in later life.
“There are plenty of steps we can all take to live more joyfully as we age,” says Professor Brodaty.
“Our collective hope is to impart evidence-based knowledge to our local community and inspire our fellow older Australians to thrive as part of ageing.”
REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thriving-connecting-and-ageing-tickets-942915464537
The event is sponsored by the South Eastern Local Health District and Randwick City Council, and is hosted in conjunction with the Juniors and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney.
Contact details:
Heidi Douglass
h.douglass@unsw.edu.au
