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ON CAMPUS
I get so much from the involvement with other learned people with ideas .
Jennie Cox with Murdoch University Chancellor Gary Smith . Picture : Murdoch University
Never too old
‘ WRONG PRIORITIES ’ IN AGED CARE Cox worked as a community nurse on the aged care assessment team in Fremantle during the 80s , trying to keep people at home for as long as possible . Back then , she says , residential aged care was “ very poor ”.
In recent decades she says she ’ s seen “ huge improvements ” in aged care , in rehabilitation and in the push to keep people at home for longer .
Care is everything , Cox believes , but says many residential aged care facilities have got their priorities wrong .
“ It ’ s silly to offer five-star living when you haven ’ t got the care .”
Taking control of ageing through higher education .
By Caroline Riches
Jennie Cox has always jumped on any chance to learn . At 81 , she ’ s just completed a degree at Murdoch University and has already enrolled for a postgraduate course .
A former nurse from Perth , Cox studied for a nursing degree as soon as one became available in the late 80s . She followed it up with a postgraduate degree in clinical nursing alongside other practical studies .
At one point , she was at university at the same time as her three children .
When she retired at 68 , it simply meant greater opportunities to learn . After attending lectures organised by the University of the Third Age , she decided she may as well enrol .
She chose a subject that was “ completely different to health ”: a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Australian Indigenous Studies .
“ It was quite a challenge because there were all these concepts that I ’ d never really taken on board ,” Cox told Campus Review . “ I just felt so stimulated .”
She admits she struggled with the decision to study in her 70s at first .
“ At first I thought , why would I study at my age ? But then I thought , I ’ ve probably got another 20 years to live . I am a voter . I need to be informed . I rationalised that no education could be wasted .”
Having now graduated , Cox says she uses the information she learned “ all the time ”.
“ Every day of my life there ’ s some connection between Indigenous people , deaths of black people , homeless people ; it ’ s all entwined . I use my knowledge every day in talking to people .”
While her mind is seemingly unaffected by the signs of ageing , Cox suffers from chronic conditions and receives a home care package .
But she ’ s determined to keep learning , and has enrolled in a four-year postgraduate course in world food security . After that , she ’ s considering a masters degree .
DEGREES A ‘ HUGE BOOST ’ TO NURSING
As well as transforming her own life , the capacity for learning has also transformed the nursing profession , she says .
In the early stages of her nursing career , her day was taken up by menial tasks . When nursing degrees appeared in the 80s , she says the profession saw a “ huge boost ”.
“ Nurses today are much better informed ,” she said . “ They know why they ’ re taking blood and what ’ s going to happen with it . They know their diseases .”
TAKING CONTROL OF AGEING As we age , Cox believes we “ become unheard ”.
“ We simply fade away ,” she said . “ But it doesn ’ t have to be that way .”
And Cox encourages Australians to take control of their own ageing – if they ’ re able to .
“ Think about your own planning , involve your family and your GP and talk to other people . What life options will you consider ? Do you want to go down the euthanasia line , for example ?”
In the meantime , she says , live the best way you can . After all , she ’ s discovered something surprising : even in her later years , her life continues to get better .
“ A lot of people think ‘ oh I ’ m going to grow old , I ’ m going to deteriorate ’ and it ’ s not true .
“ As I grow older I find I ’ m having a better time . You have time to read and think , which is pretty special .”
Cox doesn ’ t think she ’ d be in such good shape without her studies .
“ I couldn ’ t have done it without the stimulation I get from learning . I need something structured and I get so much from the involvement with other learned people with ideas .
“ The world is becoming so much more complicated , and there ’ s so much more to learn ,” she said .
“ It ’ s just incredible .” ■
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