What difference did Age Friendly Darebin make for older people in the first year?

Summary

Darebin is progressing well toward becoming an Age Friendly City.

One year ago, an independent panel presented the Age Friendly Darebin Report to Council. It included 98 recommendation on how older residents can be better supported to live well in our community. The recommendations encouraged new initiatives and services. They also saw improved Aged Care Services, increased advocacy, and Age Friendly principles embedded in Council’s plans and strategies.

In September 2020 Darebin’s Aged and Disability Department presented the Age Friendly Darebin Year One report to Council. A ‘Snapshot’ of this progress report was designed in co-operation with a group of community members. It reflects some of the new programs and services, trials and initiatives that Council started to support older people over the past twelve months. It also describes the challenges that came along with the COVID-19 pandemic and Council’s response to limit the impacts on our community.

The Snapshot is available in seven community languages.

Website: https://www.yoursaydarebin.com.au/growingolder

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Other target group(s): Vulnerable older people

Sector(s): Health, Information and communication, Long-term care, Other, Social protection, Transportation

Other sector(s): Social inclusion, participation, bridging the digital divide

Desired outcome for older people:
Build and maintain relationships

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:

Ageism
Accessibility
Ageing in place
Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
Intergenerational activities
Inclusion
Participation
Technologies

Contact details

Name: Jette Achleitner

Email address: Jette.Achleitner@darebin.vic.gov.au

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Local authorities

Others involved in the project:

Older People’s Association

How collaboration worked: Consultation and participation of older people continues to be central to developing and implementing Darebin’s Age Friendly practices. For example the design and content of Council’s communication material; urban design; strategies to keep the house cool in the hot summer months. Older people have also contributed with ideas on how to stay socially connected during COVID-19 lockdown.

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: Age Friendly practices where initiated after an extensive consultation with older community members, seniors groups and committees.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: No

Do you plan to evaluate your age-friendly practice? Yes

Looking back

Reflections:
Covid-19 has had significant impacts on older residents and on a number of Age Friendly Darebin projects. Services and facilities were closed, new services developed, and existing services adapted. The development of some new initiatives to support older residents was delayed.

Challenges:
Council introduced a range of Covid-specific responses to support older people access information and basic supplies and ensure they were socially connected. Here is one example how one Age Friendly Initiative could make a difference to an older person in our community. This is Helen’s Story: Helen lives on her own in Reservoir. When Helen recently left the hospital after a procedure, the clinician contacted Darebin’s Positive Ageing team. The doctor was worried that Helen wouldn’t cope on her own in the future. Helen’s daughter Athena had moved overseas and is unable to travel and support her Mum. Helen was desperately in need of aged care support but unable to find services on her own. And she doesn’t speak English very well. The Positive Ageing team arranged a visit with an interpreter at Helen’s home. They also set up a video call with Athena at the same time. Now all the paperwork is signed. Helen receives a Home Care Package with lots of support. Helen and Athena are very happy. They didn’t have to pay a cent for Council’s Positive Ageing Service.