Total dependency is no-one’s goal, say consumers

Older people want to age well, and providers have to meet them in the middle by delivering person-centred and rights-centred care that doesn’t teeter into well-intentioned ageism, summit hears.

Published: 18 June 2025
  • national
  • 18 June 2025
  • Australian Ageing Agenda

The afternoon session of day 2 of the Positive Ageing Summit delivered a welcome consumer perspective on holistic ageing by self-described social justice warrior and “heretic” Vector Consultants director Judith Leeson and Council of Elders chair Anne Burgess.

Both reminded the audience that total dependency is not something older people strive for, but well-intentioned carers often perceive older people as frailer than they are – discouraging them from healthy risk-taking.