Another wonderful day of international collaboration, with over 200 delegates from across the Commonwealth us joining us on the second day of Ageing in Common: an international perspective incorporating the inaugural Commonwealth Elders’ Forum and the NFC UK Conference.
After a welcome to Day 2 by CommonAge Board member Cedi Frederick, delegates benefited from the international panel’s experience of older people and communities.
Tracey Robbins from The Eden Project Communities Team highlighted how isolation isn’t often a choice, and loneliess can have detrimental affects on people’s health. Francis Njuakom Nchii called for us to return to essentials and not let bureaucracy hinder us.
With a theme of older people and communities, morning workshops included showing delegates the positive affects of 4-year-olds in a care home. Experts from New Zealand and India shared innovations in senior living while Nagaire Hobbins highlighted the unique nutrition needs of older people.
Afternoon sessions included Age Friendly cities, Leadership and innovators in Australia and Singapore, Chris Straw and Dr WeiSiang You bought showed what the future could be like with their disruptive approaches.
In what was another amazing day of making connections, sharing knowledge and giving mutual support, Perren Moon, from QCS presented delegates on its bursary with its ‘Care Essentials Toolkit’ Pack & App. This will help these delegates develop policies in delivering the essentials of care in their countries.
CommonAge Board members and bursary certificates with QCS CEO Mat Whittingham
Delegates from Africa nations took the opportunity to kick start the African Hub and taking the African Chapter of CommonAge forward.
The African Chapter of CommonAge is kick started!
Meanwhile, CommonAge Board member and Influencing and Policy Lead for Age International, Ken Bluestone was at CHOGM in London. He asks how can world leaders speak of a fairer, more prosperous, inclusive Commonwealth whilst ignoring older people? “A Commonwealth focusing on youth should not discriminate on the basis of age,” he tweeted. “A #Commonwealth that does not include its older people is not fairer and inclusive. CHOGM2018 should not discriminate on the basis of age and the People’s Forum must ask for an Elders Forum in 2020.”
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