500 Keen to Kick Start Healthy Ageing

500 Keen to Kick Start Healthy Ageing
500 Keen to Kick Start Healthy Ageing

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au

Close to 500 seniors registered for this year’s positive ageing forum at The Juniors in Kingsford on 9 November 2016.  The forum, ‘Kick Start Healthy Ageing’, was a joint project of the Aged Care Psychiatry Service, Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service (ACPS) and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), which focused on how the aspects of maintaining health into late life, particularly in relation to brain health. 

This year’s event comprised a series of expert talks from some of Australia’s pre-eminent researchers in the field of old age psychiatry, including recipient of the 2016 Ryman Prize Professor Henry Brodaty AO and Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh; geriatrician and expert in physical exercise and brain health at the University of Sydney.

Chairman of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), Michael Still, provided the opening address and acknowledged the efforts of the organisers of this highly successful annual event.

Professor Sharon Naismith, head of the Healthy Brain Ageing Program at the University of Sydney touched on the significance of sleep for healthy ageing while acclaimed dietician and author of Food as Medicine, Sue Radd-Vagenas, imparted her knowledge on eating for healthy ageing and particularly adopting a Meditteranean style diet.  Insight into the use of medications and ageing was shared by Dr Lisa Pont.

In its 15th year running, the free forum which is co-ordinated by Professor Brodaty, social worker Daniella Kanareck and their team at ACPS, has proven to be an extraordinary community success and a highlight on the Eastern Suburbs calendar. 

Part of the message of the forum is that while ageing is inevitable, it is never too late to improve your health.

Professor Henry Brodaty is passionate about what we can all do for healthy ageing.

“Our goal is for members of the community to add life to their years, not just years to their life,” he said.  “Even small lifestyle changes can have an enormous impact on healthy brain ageing.”

Thanks to all sponsors for making this event possible: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), The Juniors Kingsford, Waverley Council Small Grant Program, SESLHD Mental Health Services, Ministry of Healthy, Arts Health Institute, Dementia Collaborative Research Centres (DCRC) and Genworth

All presentations from the Forum can be accessed via the Aged Care Psychiatry Service’s website.

The next annual forum will be held in November 2017 to be added to the mailing list please contact Melissa Chungue.

Communications Contact

Communications contact: Heidi Douglass, Communications and Projects OffierHeidi Douglass
Team Lead – Innovations & Communications
T 0435 579 202
E h.douglass@unsw.edu.au