Our system is cracked and broken. Let's transform it. Now
We can begin by:
dismantling the unsafe, unkind, and unsustainable ways we institutionalize older adults needing care
informing ourselves about proven approaches that provide higher quality care at lower cost - instead of throwing good money after bad
designing age-friendly environments with normalcy, human scale, and connectivity in mind
integrating older adults into communities, cities, and society - instead of isolating and ghettoizing them in compounds and facilities
seeing older adults constructively, for what they can be and do - instead of labeling them based on their limitations, treating them as disposable, and perpetuating ageism
empowering older adults to have purpose and to experience life-long learning
joining together to advocate for pansystemic change that benefits older adults, their families and care partners, our society, and potentially ourselves
The devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic has given us a personal and societal, a moral and economic incentive to transform the way we house and care for older adults.
Let's use this opportunity to end the warehousing of older adults in "death pits."
And let's create a future where all older adults - regardless of limitations such as frailty or dementia - are respected, given opportunities to grow and contribute, and fully embedded in community.
The system needs more than tinkering or paint. We need a new, multi-pronged approach - one that is more trustworthy, accountable, equitable, humane, cost-effective, integrated, and resilient.
Read my latest article -- on how the small household approach to long-term care is safer, kinder, and more sustainable.
Check out my latest blog post -- on how ageism is costing us.
