
Category: Opinion


Research participants required
The dilemma for positive ageing lifestyles and wellbeing examined through the introduction of a social media foundation to facilitate and enhance creative decision making. There comes a time in everyone’s life when self evaluation and assessment is needed. There seems … Continue reading Research participants required

Make Your Home Safer for a Senior Loved One With These Changes
Making home modifications for seniors doesn’t have to be a lengthy, expensive task. Continue reading Make Your Home Safer for a Senior Loved One With These Changes

Sharing my Lions Australia MD Convention Thoughts from Melbourne
Together, through volunteering, we are changing communities for the better. We are, Better Together. As Lions, #weserve Continue reading Sharing my Lions Australia MD Convention Thoughts from Melbourne

CHARLIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA PREDICTIONS FOR 2022; CONTENT
Anyway, I’m off track. The journey continues through a million and one challenges, within a pandemic, where digital is at its height and need to stay relevant, nimble and in tune.
And what does digital need? Content.
Continue reading CHARLIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA PREDICTIONS FOR 2022; CONTENT

CHARLIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA PREDICTIONS FOR 2021; CALM
One of my favourite sayings for 2020. Calm the farm. Seriously. Continue reading CHARLIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA PREDICTIONS FOR 2021; CALM

OPINION | Ethics and dignity in social media for aged care
Social media is a form of journalism. Within this environment, journalists are afforded an interpretative freedom for the stories they share, as well as photographic license, within ethical boundaries. Social media can also cross over into advertising, and, it is … Continue reading OPINION | Ethics and dignity in social media for aged care
OPINION | A celebration of all
Many award programs have been around for so long, they now lack the energy to make impact, especially when many have already won the recognition they needed.
Continue reading OPINION | A celebration of all

The hidden impact of getting mum to smile
There are only so many hours in a day. Keeping someone safe and happy should be easy, right? Continue reading The hidden impact of getting mum to smile

Looking down on your career; the drone’s view
Saying we are looking from a heavenly perspective could work, but it may be considered a tad religious. A birds eye view? A better catch phrase sure. The more contemporary phase would be from a drone. A drone is simply … Continue reading Looking down on your career; the drone’s view

RUOK? Good mental health is a sense of well-being, confidence, and self-esteem.
So, are you OK? One day yes, the next day, not so maybe? Being “depressed” or down can be normal for all of us at some time or another, and it is most often a response to grief and loss … Continue reading RUOK? Good mental health is a sense of well-being, confidence, and self-esteem.

Where will you be this Australia Day?
Australia Day is the official, yet debated, National Day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising … Continue reading Where will you be this Australia Day?

Charlie’s Social Media Predictions for 2018: Consumers
To embrace the meaning of people over 50 to have meaning. Continue reading Charlie’s Social Media Predictions for 2018: Consumers

OPINION | Branding Aged Care
By using the same images as each other – we are effectively saying to the consumer there is no difference between any of us.

SPEECH | Aged Care Workshop; Creatively addressing the aged care challenge
Thank you for having me. For those I have not yet met, for your knowledge, I have worked with Ron Corso since 2010 through the UniSA Idea Generation class. We have written two papers specifically looking at the combination of creativity and … Continue reading SPEECH | Aged Care Workshop; Creatively addressing the aged care challenge

Republished; Five common myths about the ageing brain and body
Republished with thanks from The Conversation Will you still be able to do the crossword when you’re 80? Yep, better than ever, probably. from http://www.shutterstock.com.au Hannah Keage, University of South Australia and Blossom Christa Maree Stephan, Newcastle University This article is … Continue reading Republished; Five common myths about the ageing brain and body

What should have been said in my ABC Adelaide interview
Being onair (radio) is a curious process. In creativity processes, ie idea generation work, we often talk of the “thinking behind the thinking”. In fact it’s a quote Ron Corso (my UniSA research/paper writing partner) is famous for. So, when I … Continue reading What should have been said in my ABC Adelaide interview

When irony makes a post more engaging, it’s fate is sealed
It was only a few years ago people would request the sarcasm font (what seemed like) every post… Ha! Oh the irony of black and white characters appearing straight up on a computer screen, not helping people to be funny, so … Continue reading When irony makes a post more engaging, it’s fate is sealed

Our song; reconnecting with shared personal memories
The power of ‘our song’, the musical glue that binds friends and lovers across the ages Music can be a stronger trigger for shared memories than photos as we age, even in people with dementia. from http://www.shutterstock.com Amee Baird, Macquarie … Continue reading Our song; reconnecting with shared personal memories

The hidden impact of not staying fit for caring
Staying fit isn’t a sudden revelation. However, if you need local motivation, I personally recommend you join the growing trend of ‘fitness in the park’. Continue reading The hidden impact of not staying fit for caring

Republished; Simple thinking in a complex world is a recipe for disaster
In an era of post-truth and pseudoscience, what can you do?
Our “LifeFlip” initiative – which is using the “Afternoon Conversations with Ron” to tease out some of the complexities we face as we age in particular, is one way we are working to improve our world. In particular,‘Life Flip’ is the exploration of what our life will look like as contributing and valuable citizens in our later years ie past the 60+ of typical retirement. Continue reading Republished; Simple thinking in a complex world is a recipe for disaster

Republished; How to be a healthy user of social media
How to be a healthy user of social media Peggy Kern, University of Melbourne We can learn a lot about people through how they use social media. For example, Twitter language can be used to predict the risk of dying … Continue reading Republished; How to be a healthy user of social media

Republished; 2016, the year that was: Arts and Culture
Great article wrap up 2016, the year that was: Arts and Culture Suzy Freeman-Greene, The Conversation 2016 was not a good year to be a famous male musician. In January, David Bowie died at just 69. He was mourned by … Continue reading Republished; 2016, the year that was: Arts and Culture

Have we lost the ability to ask Questions?
While Adelaide is in the middle of a major storm, the common response via the media is to ask questions which typically direct blame towards either an individual (such as a politician) or a process, regulation or organisation. However, what … Continue reading Have we lost the ability to ask Questions?

Republished; Global journalism needs global ethics
Replublished Christopher Kremmer, UNSW Australia There’s an old saying in journalism: “All news is local”. It means that news, wherever it comes from, needs to engage the interest of its local audience if it is to succeed. But read today’s … Continue reading Republished; Global journalism needs global ethics

Republished; If this is the Facebook election, the major parties should be a little concerned
If Facebook is a microcosm of wider electoral feeling, Turnbull has work to do. But the main message from Facebook is that, between them, the nation’s two main political leaders are “liked” online by less than 2.5% of eligible voters. Continue reading Republished; If this is the Facebook election, the major parties should be a little concerned

2016 Oldies Media Aware Study [SURVEY LINK]
The Oldies Media Aware Study (#omas) explores the growing use of online technologies by the more senior members of our community and in particular, ways to support and encourage connections for those people to thrive (and not feel so isolated). Continue reading 2016 Oldies Media Aware Study [SURVEY LINK]

50 | The second phase of life
My life has been about twos. Not the terrible twos; no, just the pairs who met twice and joined together, and the twins with the double take on life. The second guess was twofold, not bi-fold and cemented with as … Continue reading 50 | The second phase of life

Republished; Connecting online can help prevent social isolation in older people
Jenny Waycott, University of Melbourne John*, a widower, is a retired engineer aged in his 90s. He lives alone in the family home and has struggled with loneliness and depression since his wife passed away. He feels frustrated that as … Continue reading Republished; Connecting online can help prevent social isolation in older people

#prayforparis – a collection of social media activities, notes and advice
*This is a living page – sharing key messages I made a symbol for Lebanon too. #parisattacks #beirutattacks #peace pic.twitter.com/fGMosHhiIP — Kristian Labak (@krustabred) November 14, 2015 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Hashtags Some good, some not so: http://thenextweb.com/eu/2015/11/14/paris-a-tale-of-two-hashtags/ #PorteOuvertes #ParisAttacks #PrayForParis For Australians … Continue reading #prayforparis – a collection of social media activities, notes and advice

The hidden impact of lifestyle changes are noticeable in the diet
It seems the time has come to investigate for myself. Continue reading The hidden impact of lifestyle changes are noticeable in the diet

The ethics of over-diagnosis: risk and responsibility in medicine
We’re all in this mess together: trying to be good citizens, control the future, and wrestle with the uncertainty of science. It’s a difficult challenge, but it’s not impossible. Continue reading The ethics of over-diagnosis: risk and responsibility in medicine

Australia’s next wave of startups could be from the over-55s
Attracted by work life-balance, they have more developed networks, better business experience, superior technical and managerial skills, and a stronger financial position than younger entrepreneurs. Continue reading Australia’s next wave of startups could be from the over-55s

Will the elderly rely on the Internet of Things to look after them?
Despite all of the possibilities of these devices helping the elderly to stay independent and active, there are some significant obstacles that need to be overcome before their full potential becomes a reality. The first is acceptance by the elderly themselves. Continue reading Will the elderly rely on the Internet of Things to look after them?

The hidden impact of becoming a sudden carer grows on you
Today, in celebration, we take a breath. Continue reading The hidden impact of becoming a sudden carer grows on you

The hidden impact of becoming a sudden carer is a stop start stalling affair
The journey that started with “The hidden cost of becoming a sudden carer is more than just emotional” Is more like a playground Is more revealing than expected of not caring with dignity, continues. And it needs exposure. As a carer, do … Continue reading The hidden impact of becoming a sudden carer is a stop start stalling affair