2022 Symposium Wrap Up

To celebrate the International Day of the Older Person in October, Ageing Well hosted a Symposium designed to tackle two of the biggest issues facing New Zealanders as they age: housing and aged care.

The Symposium, entitled ‘Aged Care and Housing: evidence-based solutions for Aotearoa’, featured Ageing Well researchers and experts in this area who shared their knowledge with the audience.

Director of Ageing Well, Associate Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie, was pleased with the success of the Symposium.

“The Ageing Well Symposium was a fantastic event and enabled us to continue the conversation around growing older and what we require in terms of care services and housing,” said Associate Professor Parr-Brownlie.

“By focusing on the potential for positive solutions to issues facing New Zealanders, it aligns with our mission to help our all New Zealanders age well,” she said.

Master of Ceremonies, Hinerangi Edwards, with Ageing Well Chair, Dr Will Edwards.

About the Symposium

Aotearoa’s population of people aged 65 and over is set to increase from 735,000 people (2018) to almost 1,375,000 in 2043. That means in less than a generation from now, the number of older people is set to almost double. So we asked the question: Are we, as a nation, ready for that?

The symposium explored the issues facing older people in terms of housing and aged care, but also focused on positive solutions that will enable Aotearoa to meet the challenge of the rising needs of an ageing population.

In the planning of the event, we identified that due to the Covid-19 protocols at the time, we would be unable to host an open Symposium with large numbers. The team opted for a hybrid event – a webinar format with people zooming into the digital platform and a small invited audience in the room – in order to mitigate the risk of Covid-19. The Directorate aim to summarise the events and discussions in a report in the near future.

Professor David Baxter, Co-Director of Ageing Well, and Associate Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie, Director, at the 2022 Ageing Well Symposium.

Professor David Baxter, Co-Director of Ageing Well, was effusive in his praise for the speakers.

“It was an honour to hear from experts in this area readily sharing their extensive knowledge with us. We learned much about positive solutions to current problems facing older people in Aotearoa and their whānau,” said Professor Baxter.

“We wish to thank Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper, Dr Kay Saville-Smith, Rangimahora Reddy, Yvonne Wilson, and Associate Professor Michal Boyd for their presentations, and to Hinerangi Edwards for her deft skills as master of ceremonies,” he added.

Watch elements of the Symposium

To re-watch elements of the Symposium, please click on the speakers linked below:

Associate Professor Michal Boyd (Honorary Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Auckland) – “Caring for frail older people across the continuum: what we are getting right and what could we do better”.

Rangimahora Reddy (CEO, Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust) and Yvonne Wilson (Housing Manager – Korowai Manaaki, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa) – “He Kāinga Pai Rawa Tuarua: A Really Good Home”.

Dr Kay Saville-Smith MNZM (Chief Science Advisor, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development | Director, CRESA) – “Seniors, their agency and choices in a world of financialised housing: challenges and solutions”

Carolyn Cooper (NZ Aged Care Commissioner) – “Age Care Services in your home or a care home: challenges and opportunities for the future”.