Over the past 18 months we’ve experienced seismic disruption across nearly every aspect of our private and public lives. As the CEO of the Global Centre for Modern Ageing (GCMA), apart from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact, I’ve been paying particular attention to the other forces – both negative and positive – that have been shaping the ageing sector in 2021.
While this year has been challenging for older Australians, due to risks associated with COVID-19, confusion around how to access vaccines, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety and the inability to travel to see family and friends, there have also been some substantial wins, as more companies are recognising the value our ageing population brings from an economic level, but also from a co-creation level.
In Australia and throughout Asia Pacific, we continue to see technology providers and companies work to address and support technology designed for the ageing market – AgeTech.
For a long time now, ageing consumers have been engaging with technology, but tech solutions to support their needs have not always been readily available. However, in recent times there has been a shift, which has only been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, to enable and support people as they age continue to use and engage with technologies that are right for them.
At the GCMA, we’ve been privileged to be a driver in this tech relevancy for the ageing population, having partnered with giants like Google, while also determining the increased use of tech services like telehealth among the ageing population – this is an area we have been and continue to be extremely passionate to shape and influence.
“What we are witnessing is the rapid way organisations of all sizes are working together, rallying to bring active change that translates from research and ideas to market solutions in places that matter most.”
Now is an exciting time for us, as we continue to be approached by organisations across a range of sectors and nations are coming to us for advice, asking us to help them develop longer term strategic views how they can develop and deliver innovative technology through co-design to support Ageing well in place now and into the future.
Some exciting projects we have include collaborations with world leading organisations like Enterprise Singapore and the Monash Food Innovation Project to support the export and localisation of food products developed for older consumers.
We also have a spotlight on the global stage, speaking at the Ageing Asia – World Ageing Festival (hosted and moderated from Singapore over 20 days - 1st to 20th October 2021) to present our knowledge and expertise in the field of ageing well – we invited partners including Google and HammondCare. The GCMA services are the global awards’ prize of choice.
Personally, I’m very excited about what the future has in store and look forward to sharing more details with all of you.
In this newsletter, we talk to our global network, including world leading experts in the field of ageing well, Prof Göran Roos about the importance of LifeLabs and co-creating for ageing populations and Prof John Beard about opportunities for Australia to become the global leading in “shaking off the shackles” of outdated thinking when it comes to older people.
We also hear from aged care expert, lawyer and Partner at Thomson Geer, Arthur Koumoukelis about a change that is taking place in the aged care sector as stigma’s are lifted and the future becomes the focus.
It’s a packed newsletter, and one the GCMA team is excited to share with you.
Julianne Parkinson
CEO
