Social inclusion issues for senior Victorians in residential aged care

The Victorian Government considers that older Victorians should be supported and encouraged in all aspects of their lives and not only be defined by their health and care needs.

Key policy directions in Victoria include:

1. Enabling senior Victorians to lead independent, active and healthy lives for as long as possible.
2. Encouraging communities to value, listen to, and learn from senior Victorians, and understand and appreciate the diversity of the ageing experience.
3. Creating opportunities for senior Victorians to fully participate in economic, social and community life.

Older people are particularly at risk of becoming isolated because of the life events that typically happen as a person ages.

• Many older people have lost their partner and friends and relatives may have died, moved away or visit less often
• Income is frequently reduced
• Health problems are more likely to arise as people age
• Sensory loss and functional decline is more common
• Transport can be expensive, hard to access or unavailable
• Community venues are often inaccessible, may seem unwelcoming or do not cater for the needs of older people
• Some older people have fears about their safety in public places
• Older people may encounter negative responses about their capacity to contribute to community life.

These things may be relevant whether an older person lives alone in their own home, with family carers, in some type of group arrangement or boarding house or in residential aged care. However, the Count us in! project aims to address the particular needs of people in residential aged care.

Residential aged care is an important part of the care continuum, providing types and levels of care that may not be available to people living in their own homes or with carers. However, there are some aspects of living in residential aged care that can negatively affect the quality of life of residents and the image of the sector and residents.

As well as facing all the same issues as other older Victorians, people living in ‘facilities’ are at increased risk of being seen as passive recipients of institutional care who are too frail to benefit from and to contribute to their community.

A person in residential aged care, especially as their support needs increase, will have less choice and control over many basic aspects of their day-to-day life, including their opportunity to be involved in community activities of their choice.

There is a tendency for all aspects of a residents’ life to be organised and lived within the facility, with the same people for company, the same routine every day, the same types of food and the requirement to fit with the needs of the majority, for example in choice of music, television channel, lights on or off, room temperature. More emphasis on social inclusion assists in providing variety, choice and improved quality of life for people in these circumstances.

There are trends in aged care worldwide to improve the availability of care and support to keep people ‘in the community’ and ‘in their own homes’. However, there has been less focus on maintaining community networks, involvement and opportunities for those people who need to move to residential aged care.

People who live in residential aged care should be valued citizens who are enabled and supported to maintain their involvement in the social, recreational, economic and family aspects of life and society.

The Count us in! project will focus on breaking down barriers to inclusion, on producing positive examples of projects that work, on changing behaviours, attitudes and cultures and on moving towards a more inclusive life for people in residential aged care.

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