Contemporary Issues in Ageing

• • Biological theories of ageing; psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual aspects of ageing; and holistic perspectives of healthy ageing to emphasise strengths, resilience, capabilities; disease prevention, and minimisation of disability.
  • Diversity and transitions in older age including cultural and linguistic diversity, sexuality, gender diversity, elder abuse, grand-parenting, retirement, widowhood, moving to supported living.
  • Legal and ethical aspects of older person’s health care, including health disparities and impaired decision-making capacity.
  • The healthcare system (primary care, acute care, residential aged care, home-based community care; funding; practice standards; fragmentation).
  • Partnering with older people and family caregivers to navigate the continuum of care: health literacy; transitional care; rehabilitation.
  • Implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for older people living in the community and aged care facilities, informing aged care policy and practice in regard to infection control, end of life care, and future preparedness.

Others

Enrolment in a Graduate degree.

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

This foundational unit is designed to foster knowledge and critical inquiry into current issues in aged care across a range of healthcare settings. Students will apply theoretical approaches to understand ageing in the 21st century; the promotion of healthy ageing; and the provision of ethical multi-disciplinary care for older people from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, students will explore the complexity of the contemporary Australian healthcare system, and the support of older people to navigate the continuum of care. Students will also appraise policy and practice implications emerging from the most prominent issues in contemporary Australian aged care, the Royal Commission into Aged Care and the Covid 19 pandemic.

• Problem Solving Task (20%)
• Essay (40%)
• Annotated Bibliography (40%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).