Unit Information and Assessment Overview Introduction

This unit uses a person-centered approach to explore theories of ageing and bring a critical understanding to older peoples' experience of health, wellbeing and health care across the spectrum of services available to them in Australia, and with reference to global influences.

A range of learning media will be used to assist students to examine the way contemporary ideas about ageing and old age are shaped, promoted and spread across generations, and societal contexts with a particular focus on health care.

They will gain a deeper insight into professional practice roles and their potential participation in policy development and service innovations as beginning level practitioners.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of HLTH340, students will be able to:

Discuss and evaluate a range of theories of ageing and their influence in shaping beliefs about ageing, older people's health care needs and experiences as well as the contribution they make to maintaining active ageing societies;

Examine critially how age, as a social category, intersects with other social categories such as gender, class, ethnicity and sexuality;

Explain how the ageing body is constructed, understand the ageing of body systems, differing pharmacodynamics and nutritional considerations in different social, cultural and biological discourses and the bearing this brings to health and health care practices;

Articulate the influence of social determinants of health, such as housing, income, belonging, transport and other community and social elements relevant to the diversity within Australia's ageing population;

Demonstrate an understanding of the national legal and policy frameworks relevant to ageing and their relationship to international trends; and

Demonstrate a developing capacity to analyse policies and practice frameworks regarding the prevention and management of complex and chronic diseases for the diversity of ageing populations in Australia.

Upon completion of HLTH540 students will be able to:

Discuss and critically evaluate a range of theories of ageing and their influence in shaping beliefs about ageing, older people's health care needs and experiences as well as the contribution they make to maintaining active ageing societies;

Analyse how age, as a social category, intersects with other social categories such as gender, class, ethnicity and sexuality;

Integrate their knowledge about how the ageing body is constructed, with a focus on ageing body systems, pharmacodynamics and nutritional considerations, in different social, cultural and biological discourses within health and health care practices;

Articulate the influence of social determinants of health, such as housing, income, belonging, transport and other community and social elements relevant to the diversity within Australia's ageing population;

Compare and contrast national legal and policy frameworks relevant to ageing and their relationship to international trends; and

Demonstrate a capacity to analyse policies and practice frameworks regarding the prevention and management of complex and chronic diseases for the diversity of ageing populations in Australia.