By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
EVERYONE has a story and the older the person the richer the story.
So said famed Australian author, academic and human rights advocate Arnold Zable while visiting Multicultural Aged Care Services (MACS) in North Geelong.
Mr Zable said storytelling could play an important role in aged care, especially in a region with more older people than average.
“How can you care for someone when you know nothing about them?” Mr Zable said.
“Making time and space for interactions in task-driven work roles connects us more meaningfully with aged residents and those living at home.”
Mr Zable said listening to the stories of residents was a powerful means of ensuring empathy with and respect for older people.
MACS chief executive officer Joy Leggo said the emotional presentations reminded caregivers and residents alike of the importance of personal stories.
“We wanted to find a way to start the conversation around the value of elders’ life stories, especially from those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and who have dementia,” she said.
“The talks did not focus on displacement and nostalgia that are often embedded in migrant stories.
“Instead, his insights into nurturing storytelling in aged care made us realise the importance of hearing everyone’s story, no matter how small.”
Mr Zable has been a guest lecturer at numerous Victorian universities and has presented at conferences and writers’ festivals throughout Australia and overseas.
He was awarded a 2013 Voltaire prize for human rights advocacy and the advancement of freedom of speech.
