Growing older healthily will be the focus of the Prime Times: Ageing Well and Quality of Life conference at South Bank on Tuesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 5.
The conference will bring together experts on ageing to discuss how people can live better as they get older by reducing the risk of illness and disease and increasing physical, emotional and mental health.
Dr Gail Tulloch from Griffith’s Centre of Public Culture and Ideas says as more and more people are living longer, healthy ageing is becoming increasingly important.
“Older people today have more personal and social resources than their predecessors,” Dr Tulloch said.
“They are fitter and healthier and have more knowledge of the risks to good health, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and sedentary lives. Remaining actively engaged in learning and creative activities also helps to maintain quality of life.”
Professor George Vaillant from Harvard Medical School will deliver the keynote address. Professor Vaillant has spent his research career charting adult development and the recovery process of schizophrenia, heroin, addiction and alcoholism and personality disorder.
Over the past 35 years Professor Vaillant has conducted the world’s longest study of physical and mental health. The study has charted the lives of 824 men and women for more than 60 years.
His summary of the lives of men and women from adolescence to age 80, Ageing Well: Surprising Guideposts to Happier Lifefrom the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development was published in 2002.
WHAT: Prime Times: Ageing Well and Quality of Life conference
WHEN: Tuesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 5
WHERE: Ship Inn Function Room, South Bank campus
MEDIA CONTACT: Communications Officer Deborah Marshall 07 3735 5245, 0408 727 734.