Elder Matters

26/02/2025

Please disregard any friend requests- think I may have been hacked

11/09/2023

This summary is a timely reminder that Su***de impacts people of all ages and walks of life, including those experiencing the challenges of ‘elder matters’!

Su***de Prevention Day reminds us of the importance of: acts of kindness; empathy; open mindedness; willingness to alter our perspectives; avoiding judgment and criticism; and focussing on others.

It is so important for us to validate (not minimise) the feelings of people who may be experiencing grief, sadness, loneliness, trauma, health challenges, life transitions, social isolation and/or despair.

Let’s all please follow the attached guide and strive to make EVERY day an opportunity to reach out to someone to SAVE A LIFE, ease despair, provide hope, offer a smile, accompany a loved one through sadness, with compassion.

The power of kindness and compassion can be transformative for us all!😇

Elder Matters is a private psychology and consulting practice.

05/03/2022

Elder Matters turns 12!!!

On 20 February 2010, I registered Elder Matters as a business - more specifically a Brisbane based private counselling and consulting practice dedicated to providing support for all those affected by the challenges of ageing!

Elder Matters was inspired by my own experience of family members living with dementia, and witnessing the paucity of emotional support available for all those affected by the uniquely felt experiences of: loss and grief, carer fatigue, health and capacity challenges and life transitions.

My personal and professional journey as Founder of Elder Matters has been both challenging and rewarding, and such a privilege to be a part of people’s lives during vulnerable times, hear their stories and be able to affirm their wisdom and resilience.

In its infancy …… a friend and mentor of mine would send Elder Matters Birthday Cards to celebrate achievements and offer encouragement and affirmation. This, and other, nurturing of Elder Matters by friends and colleagues has made all the difference. Their support has enabled me to arrive at this point of twelve years old, and I will always be grateful for their generosity, insights and kindness!

The scope of practice of Elder Matters has evolved in the past 12 years and particularly the last 18 months with my Registration as a Psychologist, which has meant that I can now offer support to many more clients on a broad range of Elder Matters issues.

Elder Matters is growing, but the raison d’être remains the same:

“Provide care and support for the (uniquely felt) challenges of ageing”

I’m looking forward to another 12 years of Elder Matters and celebrating the journey ahead. Thanks to all of you who have journeyed with me thus far!!

11/12/2021

‘SOLITARY’ Suggestions at CHRISTMAS

Spare a thought this Christmas and Holiday Season for family and/or friends who live alone and/or fit the marital status of `single.’

Whether widowed, divorced, clergy, religious Sisters or Brothers, never married, homeless etc., people who are single (or live alone) do not comfortably fit the Christmas mould of `family’ – especially that promoted by the media.

Remember also people who are living in a family circumstance, but may be feeling psychologically alone, single, deserted, fragile or vulnerable.

Christmas is a time when the contented family unit of mother, father and child/children is proclaimed as the norm, creating a sense of displacement for many people who live singularly or feel alone. Individuals may be reminded of their own experience of loss – loss of family, spouse, children, parents, intimacy, love, identity, or the life they imagined.

Regrets can take the place of Christmas celebration and people may feel out of place (or an `add-on’) at family gatherings as they watch each family unit within the extended family celebrate their own togetherness.

People who throughout the year embrace and celebrate their single life can suddenly feel uncomfortable and profoundly alone. They may crave, albeit momentarily, the connection and intimacy of their own ideal family.

Some friends/family are experiencing their first Christmas alone and others have expended time and energy creating a Christmas experience to avoid feeling out of place.

Maslow (1943) clearly identified `belongingness’ as a fundamental human need. It is this need that can often create a sense of loneliness and superfluity at Christmas for single persons - whether at family gatherings, amidst the crowds at Christmas shopping forays, or anticipating and experiencing Christmas dinner in an aged care facility.

As people who care, let’s please be aware of our own approach to family and friends this Christmas. Our gentle and discreet expressions of inclusiveness, kindness, warmth and understanding can make all the difference to someone’s experience of Christmas.

Wishing you all a very special Christmas experience.

Trish Carroll, Elder Matters

09/09/2021

On R U Ok day, please spare a thought (and a special moment of connection) with an elder in your life!!!

One of the challenges of ageing is the sense of invisibility in today’s world!😥 Add to this the fact that sadness, grief and depression can also be invisible, and these combined factors give some insight into the pandemic of loneliness amongst older (and many younger) adults in our world!!!

It’s helpful to know that when people are feeling ‘NOT OK’ because of sadness, grief, loneliness, low self worth, health and capacity challenges and/or a sense of invisibility, EVERYONE EXPRESSES ‘NOT OK’ differently!!
Some people hide their sadness, many withdraw from others and some people get angry if they’re continually feeling unheard or misunderstood!!

When a friend or loved one is behaving differently or uncharacteristically, or if you haven’t connected in a while, or told them how much you care, PLEASE make contact and TELL THEM YOU CARE! People don’t know if you don’t tell them.

Even bettter, we can make ARE YOU OK a regular event and ….,.

REMIND OUR ELDERS that they MATTER!!

Thanks to you all!!! If you’re not ok, please reach out to someone!

Elder Matters.

Psychology and Consulting services for individuals, not for profit organisations and corporate clients. Based in Northgate, Stones Corner & Spring Hill

24/02/2020

Elder Matters turns 10 years old
this week!! 🎉🎈🍰

It’s been a rewarding, yet sometimes challenging, decade. Such a privilege to provide support to individuals through their unique lived experience of ageing.

Thanks to all who’ve been part of the Elder Matters journey. The next decade beckons!

21/09/2019

A reminder from Elder Matters ..... this Dementia Action Week is an opportunity to share information and/or compassion with someone you know who is living with dementia, including family members/carers/loved ones.

One of the barriers to quality care for people living with Dementia is the absence of information/education about the many different types (and symptoms) of Dementia and an understanding that each individual experiences symptoms uniquely.

Also, the experience of loss and grief is experienced uniquely by each person diagnosed with Dementia and the many people affected by this diagnosis. This complex experience of grief is important to consider when taking action to support someone you know who may be living with dementia.

The attached Dementia Australia website provides resources and Elder Matters is available to provide support as needed @ www.eldermatters.com.au.

Thanks to you all for the support you’re providing for this cause.

Dementia Action Week / 16–22 September 2019 Formerly Dementia Awareness Month, this year Dementia Australia is bringing you Dementia Action Week from the 16 to 22 September to include World Alzheimer’s Day on the 21 September. The theme for Dementia Action Week is Dementia doesn’t discriminate...