Exploring the last lap - living and dying: Dorothy Runnicles at TEDxGlasgow

An 86-year old Expert by Experience working with the UK Care Quality Commission and advisor to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Dorothy Runnicles discusses ageism, mutual support among the elderly, and how to die a good death. Specifically she touches on:

-how old people obtain most help from one another through mutuality and reciprocity including a pilot 'fostering' scheme to look after older citizens
-how overt and extensive ageism is, with old people colluding in it much in the same way as happened with sexism and racism
-the hidden barriers within the personal services and its overly severe 'risk averse' culture that may do more harm than good; and how by helping elderly people keep in contact with their social networks can reduce social isolation and depression, a precursor to dementia.
-how important it is for older people to have a sense of meaning and purpose in their life however small.
- the last taboo: how to die a good death.

More About Dorothy...

At 86 yrs, Dorothy Runnicles is still working hard to improve the society we live in. Via Age UK, she is involved with the regulator, the Care Quality Commission as an Expert by Experience, in the visiting of Care Homes and more recently as a "User of Care Services". She is also an advisor on the empowerment group at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and part of their "Change in Action Programme". She works as an Associate Consultant for the National Development Team for Inclusion and is involved in their fourth project on older people with high support needs In a series of actions to tackle ageism she contributed to a report on "Age Discrimination in Mental Health Services" for the NHS Strategic Health Authority.

As a social worker and community worker in the 1950's to 1970's she was involved with homeless families and families in poverty. Some of her work (and voice) was included in the iconic film "Cathy Come Home" which contributed to a critical mass of public opinion leading eventually to changes in legislation regarding the treatment of homeless families. During the 1970's and 1980's she worked as an academic.

She learned a great deal about ageing and dementia when she looked after her own mother for 25 years, (75-100yrs), also from friends and from her own experience as an older person now. She believes passionately in lifelong learning about the ageing process and the challenge of ageism in society itself. She campaigns for respect and dignity in the handling of older people. She is currently the Elected Representative of residents in the Extra Care Housing Retirement Village in which she lives (200+ residents) to assist in the development of residents "engagement in governance" so they have a stronger voice in decision making about policies which affect them.

She benefits from the contact with her 8 grandchildren who keep her in touch with contemporary issues and intergenerational concerns.

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