By Marco Ceccarelli
It should come as no surprise that, along with other developed countries, Australia has experienced significant demographic shifts in its population. There are today proportionally fewer children (under 15 years of age) in the Australian population and a proportionally larger increase in those aged 65 and over. It is estimated that the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double by the middle of the century.
Driving this change have been low fertility rates, smaller families, increased life expectancy and a reduced number of people in the workforce compared to those reaching the traditional retirement age.
While this phenomenon is often seen as a success story of human development, it also raises concerns for the dignity and wellbeing of the most vulnerable. The elderly can be prone to abuse in institutional care and in our communities and, in a society that tends to value people only for what they contribute economically, they can be seen as burdensome or even dispensable.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) will this year be responding to such concerns in the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement: A Place at the Table – Social Justice in an Ageing Society.
In a statement issued by the ACBC in July, President Archbishop Denis Hart reported that the Social Justice Statement will celebrate the value and contributions of the elderly to the life of the community.
Archbishop Hart emphasised that the bishops will call for the benefits of work to be shared equitably, particularly where governments encourage older people to work beyond the traditional retirement age. He also expressed concern for the effects of “ageism” – the stereotyping of older people as being dependent, incapable or a burden on society.
“We are also concerned for those experiencing declining heath and approaching the end of their lives. The most vulnerable must be protected from isolation, ageism, abuse and any circumstance in which they may feel, or be made to feel, a burden on their families or society,” Archbishop Hart stated.
“This Social Justice Statement calls for communities of mercy and love, ministering to the vulnerable, building bonds between generations and ensuring everyone has a place at the table.”
National Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), John Ferguson, also warned against the impact of ageism at one of the organisation’s last briefings before the statement’s launch in September this year.
“Ageism can be seen in older people being disregarded in family consultations about treatment, or described as ‘blocking’ hospital beds, being too demanding over standards of care in residential settings, or as just another task on an overloaded community care roster. These attitudes can so easily develop into situations of elder abuse,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The Statement notes a recent Senate Community Affairs Inquiry that found residential care and aged care residents are ‘particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse and neglect due to their age, frailty and specific disabilities such as dementia’. The report also noted that elder financial abuse is a growing problem in the community,” he added.
In light of Pope Francis’ repeated warnings against a “throw-away culture” that disposes of the elderly and views people only in terms of their utility, Mr Ferguson stated that the bishops join with Holy Father in challenging indifference and contempt for old age.
“They [the bishops] emphasise how ‘each and every person is created in the image of God’. The say ‘this is the basis of our worth and dignity. Even in our weakness, our fragility and decline, the image of God still shines in our eyes and we remain his beloved daughters and sons’,” he said.
“This fundamental truth underpins our defence of older people who are frail and vulnerable. We must ensure that no policy or public debate ever casts these citizens as a burden or as rivals to younger generations.”
This year, Social Justice Sunday will be on 25 September 2016.
From pages 11 and 12 from Issue 4: ‘Health’ of The Record Magazine