MaryLou Harrigan
New Zealand - no country for old men (or
women)?Increasing pressures on the healthcare system, including
the effects on older people, were discussed yesterday during
day one of the New Zealand Bioethics Conference in Dunedin.
About 100 people registered for the three-day event at
Salmond College, which will focus on bioethical issues
relating to increasing pressures on healthcare needs and
resources for the nation's growing elderly population.
Healthcare consultant and educator MaryLou Harrigan, of
Vancouver, Canada, gave a lecture yesterday about the
challenges of an ageing population and the issues surrounding
ageism.
Dr Harrigan said there had been a dramatic rise in elderly
people with dementia which closely followed the rise in the
elderly population.
Her lecture discussed ways long-term care facilities were
changing to meet these challenges.
"We've looked at how we understand the individuals, so that
we can give better personalised care and support.
"In the past, people with dementia have been understood as
empty shells, and the care provided was less than adequate.
"Now, we see them as having personhood, even though they may
no longer be able to express themselves.
"We are making progress now by looking at dementia in a
different way.
"Staff learn about the person, their life, their history,
which helps them give better quality of care."
Other keynote speakers giving lectures at the conference are
Ministry of Social Development principal adviser Dr David
Bromell, University of Tasmania Prof Susan Dodds, Dunedin
School of Medicine health policy, preventive and social
medicine Prof Robin Gauld, University of Otago emerging
technologies director Associate Prof Colin Gavaghan,
University of Otago Bioethics Centre professors Grant Gillett
and Gareth Jones, and Lakes District Health Board population
health analyst Dr Barry Smith.
Topics include diseases of lifestyle and obligations of
companies to the plight of consumers of cigarettes and fast
foods; ageing population; changing demographics; equity and
distributive justice; and new technologies.
On Sunday at 10.45am, a panel chaired by Prof Jones will take
part in a debate about proposed changes to research ethics
processes. They will discuss whether the changes need fine
tuning or a major rethink.
- john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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