Launched in February 2019, the “See Me. Know Me.” campaign has undoubtedly “hit a nerve” among a community of people who can feel marginalised even in their own family.
Speaking to The eRecord, Meaningful Ageing Australia Chief Executive Ilsa Hampton said this campaign was intended “to help seniors feel more valued and ultimately empowered to find aged care services that will truly tune in to the as a whole person”.
The campaign emphasised its significance in ensuring aged care services to not only see the person but also know the values and beliefs of that person as a senior.
It is believed that, as we age, “some people only see lines and grey hair rather than the stories, feelings, beliefs and experiences that make us who we are”.
When choosing aged care, it is important to find an organisation that will see beyond the surface and find out what gives the person a purpose, what the person believes and what connects the person to life.
“The campaign aims to invite people to engage with ageing, to reflect on what is meaningful to them and to share this information with others,” Ms Hampton stated.
“It equips older people who are seeking aged care with questions to ask providers to ensure that their sense of purpose and connectedness is valued and nurtured.”
Meaningful Ageing Australia and participants from Villa Maria Catholic Homes are among those who are involved with this campaign.
Ms Hampton explained that the goal of this campaign was “to have older people connecting better with themselves [by having the chance to reflect] and others [by sharing], as well as building ‘spiritual literacy’, hence people know how to talk about and expect their deeper needs to be met”.
“It is also hoped that through this campaign, older people can feel empowered when choosing aged care services, build confidence in high quality aged care, and for service providers to understand that it is expected of them to take the spiritual needs of older people seriously.”
Ms Hampton said there were special events held to start the conversations using their Conversation Cards and “bowled over by the positive feedback”.
“I’ve received much positive feedback of the afternoon high tea conversation session.
“In particular, one said: ‘this gave me a venue to voice out my thoughts and I feel much better by just brewing all thoughts inside’, or another person who commented, ‘I attended along with my 69-year-old sister and 89-year-old mother… we found the questions on the cards provided to be very thought provoking and gave us opportunity to reflect meaningfully upon our lives and have a different from usual conversation’.
“We will use the question cards at a larger family evening meal, and possibly even at ‘girls’ afternoon tea’ with friends at home,” she continued.
Ms Hampton mentioned that the commonwealth has not offered further support at this stage; however, the organisation is committed to keep trying to get the word out.
“Anxiety about aged care is well known; and the struggle of services to understand spirituality in all its richness is also a constant challenge,” she said.
To learn more about “See Me. Know Me.” campaign, click here: https://seemeknowme.org.au