Reframing Residential Aged Care as communities within social and environmental communities to empower human flourishing
Lachie Green1, Queensland Bioethics Centre, Australian Catholic University Brisbane 1Queensland Bioethics Centre, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety suggested a systemic, philosophical reframing is required to resolve foundational flaws in the aged care sector. However, limited bioethical research exists that can guide such a philosophical shift. Residential Aged Care (RAC) serves dual purposes, acting as a place of residence and social space, as well as a space in which care is delivered. Such a unique setting requires a philosophical framework that considers social outcomes and the holistic nature of the person as well as health-based outcomes.
A renewed philosophical framework for aged care should be underpinned by an articulated moral purpose for the sector. This paper utilises Thomas Pogge’s dual-faceted notion of human flourishing to argue that empowering human flourishing should be the moral purpose of aged care. Assuming aged care should promote human flourishing, the paper next argues, to better empower resident flourishing, RAC can be reframed as communities within broader social and ecological communities. Social and environmental justice scholars argue that systems seeking to empower flourishing should recognise the impacts that community attachment and engagement have on the personal and ethical value required for flourishing. The paper concludes by considering the implications of that reframing for the aged care sector. This lays a foundation for future ethical guidance for design, policy, and practice in the sector.
Biography
Lachie Green is a PhD candidate at the Australian Catholic University in the Queensland Bioethics Centre. His research is focused on creating socially and environmentally just aged care settings. He has many years of experience as a policy professional in the aged care sector.