What does it mean to be an older person?

As of 30 June 2012, fourteen percent of the Australian population was over the age of 65 (3.2 million people) (AIHW 2013). Yet despite the ageing population, older age continues to be negatively framed, associated with loss such as social isolation and withdrawal (including unproductivity) and a body in decline with malfunctioning or deficit physical, mental and emotional resources (Gullette 2004; Hunt 2005). This negativity towards ageing may contribute to, or could be at odds with, how older people perceive and experience their own ageing process. This project seeks to understand ageing from the perspective of people who are aged 65 years and over through the methods of photo elicitation and in-depth interviews. This small exhibition provides initial insight into the findings of this project.