RECOGNISING and respecting the significant contribution older people play in creating vibrant and viable communities is a key aspect of Gannawarra Shire Council’s renewed ageing strategy.
The Positive Ageing Strategy 2016-2020 highlights council’s commitment to recognising and respecting the significant contribution older people play in creating vibrant and viable communities, the shire’s community well-being director, Mandy Hutchinson said.
The shire expresses a strong commitment to continue to strengthen partnerships between council, service providers and the community while planning for the projected change in demographics expected over the next decade enables existing strengths to be recognised, provides a vital platform for seeking assistance to address the challenges, and ensures that Gannawarra is in a position to embrace the opportunities that an ageing population presents.
Ms Hutchinson said that council’s current positive ageing strategy concluded this year with 91 per cent of all actions completed. Incomplete actions have been carried forward into the revised strategy.
“The strategy has provided direction and action that has assisted council in working towards becoming an age-friendly community,” she said.
Council staff revised the strategy after obtaining public feedback, including a response from the Gannawarra Seniors Advisory Group, including acknowledgement that ageing is not always positive.
The vision for the new strategy now states: Gannawarra Shire will be an age-friendly community that enables our older people to enjoy connected, engaged and active lifestyles and maintain independence for as long as possible while building confidence and resilience to make choices to transition to higher level care within their communities at a time that is right for them.
Council was told that the new 2016-2020 strategy highlights council’s commitment to older people within the shire and provides direction by identifying the priority issues and needs to older members of the community.
“The ultimate goal of the strategy is to support older residents to stay active independent and socially connected; and to build confidence so that transitioning to higher levels of care is done with dignity and respect,” Ms Hutchinson said.
The following principals are inherent in the plan:
Inclusion: older people are supported, particularly those who are most vulnerable
Respect: we respect decisions and lifestyle choice of older adults
Independence: older people have greater control over their lives through independence and active participation.
Engagement: older people are highly engaged in community decision-making processes and influence issues relevant to them.
Resilience: older people are supported to build confidence and resilience to make choices to transition to higher level care within their communities at a time that is right for them.
Recognition: older people are recognised for their valuable contribution to the community.
