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Caring in the New Old Age

Does the care system enable older people to live fulfilling lives? Sonia Sodha examines if it is time to rethink how older people are cared for.

Is it time to rethink how we care for older people, to enable them to have fulfilling lives?
In recent years the media has highlighted terrible cases of paid carers abusing and neglecting vulnerable, older people. Is it now time for a more fundamental re-examination of how society should care for older people? Much is made of the poor status, low wages and lack of training of workers in the care system. Why are older people entrusted to them in a way which we would never allow for children? Should we tackle the view that old age is simply a period of decline that has to be managed rather than an opportunity for a fulfilling final chapter of life? Sonia Sodha examines new thinking from Japan, the US and closer to home about how care might be done differently. And she considers whether we need to change our approach to how we look after the elders in our society.
Producer: Ian Muir-Cochrane.

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30 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Mar 2015 21:30

Broadcasts

  • Mon 16 Mar 2015 20:30
  • Sun 22 Mar 2015 21:30

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