Ngaire Kerse: changing perceptions about ageing

Professor Ngaire Kerse's appointment as the Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well allows her to focus on changing our mindset about ageing.

The role was created after Cliff Cook, founder of the Metlifecare retirement villages, donated $5 million to the University's For All Our Futures fundraising campaign. Ngaire is recognised as an international expert in maximising health and reducing falls for older people. She spent many years working as a GP in residential aged care and still practises part time as a GP at the Auckland City Mission.

"I'm hoping to be able to influence in this role. Whether that's me saying some outrageous things or whatever. Because old people are outrageous – they're fantastic!

"We need to change society's attitudes to expect older people to be a positive influence," says Ngaire. "Maybe develop some innovative ways to influence the way society thinks about older people that don't make them feel so bad."

She's working on developing a virtual Centre for Healthy Ageing in which experts share experiences to build a critical mass of information about ageing in New Zealand. She says nutrition, physical activity, loneliness and housing are key areas to address. As the number of people aged 85-plus grows from 85,000 now to about 385,000 in 2060, these issues will be critical. She says while retirement villages are great for those who can afford them, there are a growing number of renters in the ageing demographic. She's heard of a solution – older people flatting together in privately organised options, such as Abbeyfield in Auckland.

"There's a communal housing thing going up in Grey Lynn, with around 17 households all together. You have a community space you share, and you know each other so you don't get lonely. We should turn all the old motels into these, so you can have all your friends living in the units!"