The Embolden Symposium is Australia’s only national event combatting ageism and building respect for older people. Established in 2018, our aim is to embolden (build capacity/confidence) of service providers, policy makers, community leaders, older people and everyone who works with or for older people – to accelerate the page of change. Embolden2023 will focus on cultural dimensions of ageism and practical primary prevention strategies.
The 2023 Symposium will be held on October 3-4 at the Daylesford Town Hall (in person event only). Additionally, on October 1st, an online event will launch the #OldisBeautiful project, to coincide with International Day of the Older Person.
Our President Shirley Glance OAM will be one of this years Presenters.
Thank you, thank you to everybody who voted and shared our wonderful short film – ‘LIVES WELL LIVED’
Without your support and commitment we could not have made it possible. We will certainly let everybody know who the winner will be once we are notified.
Thank YOU 🫵
Below are instructions for everybody who can, to get as many people in your community to vote for ‘LIVES WELL LIVED’. We have a scheduled Facebook Post every two hours today and one on the final hour.
If you could please throughout the day, click on Post Polio VIC. Facebook Page and share the 2 hour scheduled posts within your communities. At the bottom of every 2 hour post will be a share button. Click on the share button and choose ‘Share to a Feed’. The every 2 hour post you share will go directly to your personal Facebook Feed for your communities to hopefully vote and share. All the hard work is done for you, including a short paragraph on each 2 hour post to help you engage your communities.
Recognition at last: People ageing with Post-Polio Syndrome
In November 2022, the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) co-hosted a workshop in collaboration with Post Polio Victoria Inc. and Celebrate Ageing Inc. The aim of the workshop was to contribute to the health and wellbeing of people ageing with Polio by educating service providers and community members on the experiences and needs of people ageing with Polio.
Key points
❖ Australia is home to some 73,000 Polio survivors
❖ Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects Polio survivors
decades after their infection
❖ PPS can have a significant effect on overall health and wellbeing, and the
capacity for older adults with PPS to age well
❖ Although PPS symptoms vary between individuals, they generally include:
❖ Muscle weakness and atrophy, chronic fatigue, pain and respiratory
problems
❖ Increased sensitivity to cold, trouble swallowing and poor sleep
❖ Because health and aged care providers generally know little about Polio
or PPS, patients’ symptoms and experiences are often poorly recognised
and understood
❖ Polio survivors want health practitioners to listen, recognise PPS and offer
an empathetic, sensible approach to the managing each person’s
symptoms
❖ To help them age well and with dignity, Polio survivors need equipment to
assist with mobility and ventilation, and the modification of living
environments to support independence at home
❖ Polio survivors need better access to assistive technology and home
modifications through aged care policy and practice
❖ Disability support often involves equipment and resources for
adjustment that aged care often cannot provide
❖ Access and inclusion can be optimised through telehealth and other
virtual services
❖ Where possible, service providers should be creative in how they design
and deliver services, drawing on different funding and support options
For too long, Polio survivors have been hidden in society and largely forgotten. Many of us don’t understand Polio and the unique experiences and
needs of people ageing with Post Polio Syndrome. It’s important to learn from diverse perspectives and understand how to be more inclusive.
Health services must be tailored to different requirements … Polio impacts
every person differently.
The full workshop report is available on the AAG website at www.aag.asn.au. It offers recommendations to inform policy and improve practice to better meet the needs of older adults with PPS. For more information, contact Shirley Glance at info@nullpostpoliovictoria.org.au or phone 0431 702 137
