Aging and Elder Care: Time for Transformation

Aging and Elder Care: Time for Transformation highlights and explores the various issues related to aging, elder care, and caregiving. It advocates for a transformative shift in how society views and supports its elderly citizens, challenging ageism in care systems. Weaving together personal experiences, research, and activism, this book addresses the challenges and opportunities in providing care for aging individuals and proposes alternatives to the current systems of care in Canada and around the world. It aims to tell a “new story” that values the dignity of elders, promotes inclusion and belonging, and reimagines later life with purpose, meaningful social connections, and personalized support.

Within its fifteen chapters, Lord covers a variety of topics, including his personal perspectives and experiences, alternatives to the current care system such as community-based care, challenging ageism, emphasizing social relationships, and calling for society to shift its views on aging and elderly care. For instance, the book discusses Canada’s aging population and the need to address ageism and the broken elder care system (Chapter 1). It emphasizes the importance of anticipating future needs and fostering a culture of caregiving that values interdependence and community support (Chapter 2). The book also highlights the significance of social connections and belonging for elders’ well-being (Chapter 3).

Moreover, Lord explores the role of caregivers and the importance of reflecting on personal experiences to enhance caregiving (Chapters 4 and 5). He advocates for the integration of natural supports and community connections to improve elder care (Chapter 6). The need for home care reform and the benefits of community-based care are discussed, along with examples of successful alternatives from around the world (Chapters 7 and 9).

Other chapters delve into the healing power of nature (Chapter 8), the inner life and resilience of elders and caregivers (Chapter 10), and the creation of age-friendly communities (Chapter 11). The book also examines hospice and palliative care (Chapter 12), the complexities of medical assistance in dying (Chapter 13), and the need for personal, cultural, and political transformation in elder care (Chapter 14). Finally, it outlines strategies for leadership and advocacy to drive systemic change (Chapter 15).

Through Aging and Elder Care: Time for Transformation, readers are encouraged to reflect critically on the current state of elder care, be inspired to advocate for a more compassionate, inclusive, and person-centered future, and use the book as a resource to guide policy decisions that positively impact the aging population and society as a whole.

Citizenship / Self-Determination in Canada Video

John Lord, Founder of the Centre for Community Based Research, discusses Canada’s existing policy and practice framework for individualized funding for people with disabilities and highlights pockets of excellence that show promise for the future.

Independent Facilitation Video

John Lord describes Independent Facilitation as part of the Citizenship Conference in Vancouver in October, 2015

Belonging Lens

This Belonging Lens was presented at the New Story Group on Waterloo Region on October 15, 2013. The event was part of a two part series called Building a Community of Belonging: It Starts with Conversation.

Click here to see the Belonging Lens

Enhancing Social Inclusion

MAY 22 Inclusion PRESENTATION [Compatibility Mode]  Enhancing Social Inclusion.  A keynote address of the key elements that enhance social inclusion.
John identifies three key elements; the right values and principles, the right intentions and strategies, and the right facilitation. These ideas are grounded in the New Story and challenges us to think intentionally and critically about how to build inclusive communities.

New Story Commentary

The New Story challenges us to reflect on how we live and act in the world. Many questions emerge when we consider the idea that everyone should be able to access an everyday life. This thinking impacts our attitudes and our willingness to create welcoming neighbourhoods and communities.

We can think of the New Story as a narrative with citizenship at the core. When we can live full lives as citizens, we embrace diversity and participate with others in a range of community experiences. Our labels or disabilities should not limit the way we participate and contribute. Too many citizens have been silenced because of negative attitudes and structural barriers. New Story advocates work to reduce these barriers, while at the same time developing community alternatives that enable everyone to experience an everyday life.

Family networks and independent facilitation are examples of community alternatives that enhance the New Story. When combined with individualized funding, these new functions contribute significantly to building the resilience of individuals and families. Independent Facilitation is especially powerful when facilitators work from an inclusion framework that includes self-determination and community.

Developments in Direct Payments

John Lord, Peggy Hutchison, and Brian Salisbury have a chapter in a New British book called Direct Payments.

Facilitating an Everyday Life

Independent Facilitation and what really matters in a New Story

Independent facilitation frees facilitators to be dedicated to citizens who experience vulnerability because of labels, disability, chronic illness, poverty, or aging. Facilitators are independent of biases from others such as service systems and funding bodies.

Order the book here – http://www.inclusion.com/bkfacilitating.html

Independent facilitation puts belief and hope in community because that is where relationships and safeguards play out for all of us.

Independent facilitation builds resilience and capacity in individuals, families, and communities.

Independent facilitation flourishes when it is embedded in community, in facilitator networks, and is supported by local action and government policy.

This book is for people like us, people who want to make a difference, who want to feel free to be dedicated to a person; to citizens who experience vulnerability. People who want to use an effective process that is a change maker. Independent facilitation is an emerging craft. Facilitators in the New Story believe that community is always the answer. We reject approaches that do not lead people to relationships in their community. And while independent facilitation may touch the service system to access supports for a person, it is independent of agendas, expectations, and accountabilities of service systems.
John, Barbara & Charlotte

Pathways to Inclusion, 2e

This book is an examination of various perspectives on disability that provide insightful discussion on the current need for social innovation to move vulnerable citizens from areas of exclusion to social inclusion. It offers a straightforward approach to addressing the organizational strategies that have been used in the past and highlighting areas for change.

2nd Edition can be purchased here.

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Friends & Inclusion: Five Approaches to Building Relationships

This book is all about relationships and their importance in building an inclusive life! It’s that simple and that complex. But that is true for all of us; it takes work to build and sustain friendships. If you happen to experience a disability, building relationships must be more intentional. We all need to Belong. Peggy, John & Karen describe their personal search and exploration of five approaches to building the good life that Karen enjoys. Let Karen be your mentor. She has it figured out for herself – with a little help from her friends.

For more information check out Peggy Hutchison’s website.