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The Forum > Article Comments > Ageing is a triumph and a new research paradigm is needed > Comments

Ageing is a triumph and a new research paradigm is needed : Comments

By Patricia Edgar and Don Edgar, published 13/10/2014

We have a problem with social attitudes towards ageing and it's not just with politicians and policy bureaucrats.

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No we don't. We don't need such research and we don't need such policy.

All we need is Patricia, and everyone who agrees with her, to put their money where her mouth is. If Patricia thinks the aged are unfairly discriminated against in employment, then she can employ them, and they can help fund it. This way they'll be doing well at the same time as doing good. Since according to her theory, the aged are undervalued in the market, Patricia will make lots of profit, and the aged will have secure jobs paying above-market wages.

On the other hand, if Patricia's theory is wrong, she'll make lots of losses, and that is as it should be. But it won't be a burden for Patricia, because she's the one saying the aged are not a dependent burden. Which is why Patricia, and everyone who agrees with her, can pay for the care of the aged as well. No need for any policy.

The other possibility is that Patricia is making a display of ostentatious piety and fake social concern, and she knows she is.
Posted by Jardine K. Jardine, Monday, 13 October 2014 9:19:48 AM
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An excellent article by Dr Patricia Edgar and Dr Don Edgar.

I was particularly struck by: "The New York Times reports studies that show seeing or hearing gloomy nostrums about what it is like to be old can make people walk more slowly, hear and remember less well, and even affect their cardio-vascular system."

I'd also add that sedentiary sports and pastimes are expected of those over 60 such as:

- fishing on a wharf or tinnie holding a tinnie of beer

- bowls with drinks at the club bar afterwards

- golf - lots of fatties play it - then drinks at the club bar

- housie, bingo, pokies - nursing a beer or wine

- watching live or large screen sport - beer in hand

all of these are unheathy and life limiting. Less grog for health.

How about fast walking or step-cross trainer machines instead?

Some research may be needed but not major tomes. Within a university curriculum, media (Fairfax and Murdoch) and advetising agencies its certain money for research can be allocated. All yielding brief results and conclusions for media, not wordy academic disseminations.

Pete
Posted by plantagenet, Monday, 13 October 2014 11:26:06 AM
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Exactly Patrica and Don.
And even truly obnoxious articles like JKJ, will be old one day, should he live so long!
However, he is right in one aspect.
Someone has to fund these new, age related Paradigms!
And that should come from the considerable savings, the postulated prevention model will indubitably create.
It costs as around $70,000.00 PA, just to maintain one elderly person in aged care nursing home, and less than $40,000.00 to fully maintain them in their own homes, with visiting house and garden services.
The only problem to date with the latter less costly model.
Is the fact that we fund service providers, not the most inherently efficient service?
Which arguably is just is what we would get, if the funding was instead, directed at the clients, rather than the (overcharge, under-provide) providers!?
Moreover, in too many cases, the infirm elderly, must travel to them, who just want to die in their own homes; as opposed to making some service providers, rich millionaires!?
It's just too easy, to manage a delivered service, in an orderly time saving manner!
Things I would include in true preventative care, include (artery softening) HRT, and cheap as chips, Hypobaric (compressed) pure oxygen therapy.
The only cure thus far, for the venous ulcers, that affect the legs of some of the less mobile elderly.
And such regular treatment, would deal with a lot of other aged care issues, currently costing many billions, in never ending tax payer funded management models!
Sometimes, the only thing that prevents the (alone) elderly from being more mobile and getting more healthy exercise, is a simple inability to put on shoes and socks, due to easily treated swelling, (compression stockings) or the stiffening of all those parts, needed to make such seemingly simple tasks possible.
If JKJ is truly/genuinely worried about the cost of aged care, and its impact on the overburdened taxpayer, he should be first in a very long queue, thoroughly endorsing this vastly more sane and massively less costly aged care model!
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Monday, 13 October 2014 11:31:56 AM
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Aging dose need a new paradigm, Patrice's article is important because it sets, hopefully, the need for such an approach that the times demand. Changes that have occurred in the past within societies have belatedly registered in the consciousness of those societies. This led to the necessary changes being adopted that recognised the need for change being adopted. This inturn led to tragic mistakes being implemented.

The article points to the key error that caused the need for change being inplemented. Reseach was confined to a past paradigm that was unable to recognise that society had moved on. Which points to need for research to escape from past norms and research those where the change is happening, the aged.

I can identify with that group which enables me to feel the needs that have been identified in this article.
Posted by Gun Boat, Monday, 13 October 2014 12:00:57 PM
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Aging is a triumph? Only a person deep in the thicket of insanity could make such a claim.

Aging is like walking in a minefield where cleverly hidden landmines have been planted to deceive the stumbling pilgrim whom age shall not weary, or so they say.

Don Quixote was written by someone who knew something about aging. Don attacked windmills thinking they were monsters. Don treated a women of uncertain age and virtue as though she was a Saint.

In the play, all the follies and foibles of aging were laid bare for all to see: the dribbling, the increasing uncertainty of certain bodily functions, the intolerance of the young towards older people, the painful stiffening of joints, the relentless loss of hearing and eyesight, the increasing visits to the doctor, the escalating costs of treatment, and so it goes, so it goes.

Aging has not been kind to me or most others that I've met. I don't know anyone that hasn't suffered.

Aging is a dire, messy, destructive process that leads to unpleasantness, loss of dignity, and death. That is the reality, folks.

A triumph? No, it's not!
Posted by David G, Monday, 13 October 2014 12:04:57 PM
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The minority exceptions that prove the rule Pete, perhaps?
And hardly ever those living on pension payment handouts, (permanent penury) but rather, public service retirement privileges, (able bodied/security service providing TPI's) and some of the better off self funded!?
Would that we could all be high income earning (permanently sober) doctors, lawyers and public servants! And earn enough to save for a self funded retirement!
But someone has to do the hand to mouth seasonal jobs, shear the sheep, pick the fruit, polish the boots, clean the public toilets, empty the garbage cans, wait on tables, pick up after those who (hurl their bottles/cans/junk/needles/abuse) trash our streets and city highways/or the beaches of the world, excetera etc.
Often working in the wee small hours, when a patently privileged pokie playing Pete (given the company he seems to keep, boozing fishing; and, [not bloody golf again, hit a tiny wee ball around a great big one] bombastic bowls buddies) is resting on his many significant laurels and bias conformation!?
Non smoking, non drinking, non pokie playing, non betting, cross training Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Monday, 13 October 2014 12:12:44 PM
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