Our approach

We want to achieve cultural change - to ensure ageing is celebrated, ageism is challenged and older people are valued and respected. The Program can also be viewed as a strategy for the primary prevention of Elder Abuse. On this page we outline what we mean by that - and describe our us of art, story and Appreciative Inquiry to achieve social change.
Primary prevention of Elder abuse
Elder Abuse is defined by the World Health Organisation as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person". Elder Abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional, sexual and financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect. Elder Abuse is a serious social problem in developing and developed countries yet is underreported and often hidden from view.  It is estimated that between 2-6% of older Australians experience abuse - but figures are expected to be significantly higher. Elder Abuse may be perpetrated by family members, trusted friends and care givers. 

Elder Abuse can have a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of older people. Research has demonstrated that older people who experience abuse are:
  • Three times more likely to die prematurely
  • Four times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home
  • Three times more likely to be admitted to hospital
  • More likely to suffer from depression or psychological distress including feelings of helplessness, alienation, guilt, shame, fear or anxiety

​Ageism as a contributing factor
There is a link between Elder Abuse and a lack of respect for older people. People who perpetrate Elder Abuse may see older people as commodities. This is particularly apparent in the case of 'inheritance impatience' where older people are financially abused by family members. Ageism also contributes to a lack of willingness of the part of older people to report abuse. Ageism can diminish self esteem and self worth which increases vulnerability to abuse and prevents older people from reporting abuse. 

​About primary prevention
Responses to Elder Abuse may take a number of forms. You may hear people talk about primary, secondary and tertiary strategies to prevent abuse. These strategies occur at different times and involve different interventions targeting different personal: 
  • Primary prevention: focuses on stopping the abuse before it happens, by removing the cause or preventing the development of risk factors. Examples include education and changing ageist perceptions of older people. It's about changing behaviour and building the knowledge and skills of individuals. The structural, cultural and societal contexts in which abuse occurs are also a key focus.
  • Secondary Prevention: is the immediate response after abuse has occurred to eliminate the risk and deal with the short term consequences. This often involves taking steps to ensure the older person is safe.
  • ​Tertiary prevention: takes place after the abuse has occurred to deal with the lasting consequences. It aims to prevent or minimise the impacts of violence and to prevent perpetrators from re-offending. It can involve minimizing the impacts of abuse and restoring health, wellness, and/or safety as soon as possible.
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In order to prevent Elder Abuse in Australia there is a need to develop strategies that target prevention at all three levels. The Celebrate Ageing Program focuses on primary prevention and aims to prevent Elder Abuse by challenging ageism and promoting respect for older people. We aim to achieve this by: 
  • Inviting adults to value their own ageing
  • Inviting older people to recognise 'internalised ageism'
  • Promoting conversations that value older people
  • Demonstrating older people's expertise
  • Promoting awareness of practical strategies for age friendly communities and services.

​By utilising creative arts the Challenging Ageing Program aims to engage the community broadly to educate them about the effects of ageism, the value of ageing and strategies to promote age friendly communities and services. It is hoped this will lead to changes in attitudes that reduce the incidence of Elder Abuse.
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Art based approach
Taking an arts based approach is important. By arts we mean a broad range of activities including: visual arts, craft and design, writing, literature and story telling, music, performing arts, dance, theatre, film and digital arts.

Interest in arts based approaches to health and wellbeing is growing. In 2012 The Institute for Creative Health in Australia convened a forum at Parliament House Canberra to develop a National Arts and Health Framework. The Framework was endorsed by Ministers of Health and Ministers of the Arts across Australia. It recognises the role of arts in improving the health and wellbeing of Australians and encourages integration of arts into health. It acknowledges the opportunities to utilise art based approaches to reduce inequalities, prevent disease, promote healthy ageing and older people's wellbeing, address sensitive social issues and create a bridge between groups of socially isolated or marginalised people. It is also identified as a way of strengthening cultures. All these links underpin the Celebrate Ageing approach. 

An arts based approach is also fun and a powerful way of engaging people's interest. This is pivotal to the success of the Program, which is seeking to engage the interest of every Australian. Here are some of the artists we have worked with:
Appreciative Inquiry
The Program takes an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Approach. The AI approach is generally applied to used in organisational development, but it holds great promise for building community capacity to build respect for older people and prevent Elder Abuse.

According to the Appreciative Inquiry Commons, AI is a constructive mode of action research (research featuring collaborations and change) which distinguishes by its deliberately affirmative assumptions and focus on the unconditional positive question. The approach was developed after recognition that the 'problem focus' generally used in action research diminishes the capacity to engage the interest of collaborators. It shifts away from looking for problems as a strategy to identify improvements  to looking for 'what works' and ways in which 'what works' can be improved. This approach is considered to mobilise people, highlight benchmarks, strengths, innovations, opportunities and achievements. It is said to build momentum because it 'believes in people'. The AI approach involves collecting people's stories of 'something at its best'. The Celebrate Ageing Program involves taking an AI approach to:
  • My Ageing: tell us what you value about your own ageing
  • Age Friendly: what makes an age friendly experience
  • Place: what creates a sense of place

​While we recognise the value of AI in celebrating ageing and older people, we would also like to acknowledge that in the case of Elder Abuse there is also a need to focus on what is not working and this is done through a number of Secondary and Tertiary Prevention Strategies.