Place 365

A Sense of Place is an important part of all of our lives. It's not so much about geographical location as it is about belonging and connection. There is an important link to be made between a world in which older people feel valued and respected - and older people's sense of place. On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2017 we launched Place 365 - to raise awareness of the importance of PLACE in older people's lives. We also invited our facebook followers to share a photo and story. 

The meaning of place

At Embolden2018 we invited a number of Elders to present on what Place meant to them, how it was disrupted and how they restored a sense of place. Across these presentations we gave delegates blank postcards and invited them to write their reflections on the meaning of Place. Fifty one participants completed postcards with 127 comments about the meaning of place and strategies to build a sense of place. One participant wrote that place is: My tribe. Cultural understanding and being understood for culture. Geography – the landscape that resonates in the inner sense of self. The place of my story – the settings of the scenes of my life. Place is belonging and breathing the air freely. Place is the existence of support. Place is a roof and walls that are safe and warm and comfortable.

Other messages about the importance of place are summarised in the Embolden2018 Collection and some key themes about the meaning of place include the following: 

1. Family doesn’t need to be biological. House is bricks and mortar – a home is the love you carry into a home
2. Space to be free to be yourself and to belong in safety, culturally appropriate and valuing environment
3. Familiar faces. Memories and connections. Trust and comfort. Support
4. Home is where one feels safe, comfortable, free, satisfied, familiar and secure, belonging and owning the space
5. Being in a place where you are respected, supported and loved. This love can be found from friends and others. Even if you have not family or partner.
6. A safe place where elders are heard and believed
7. Sense of place is not just the physical building but the place where people interconnect and provide support and compassion

dis-placement

At Embolden2018 we invited delegates to share what Place meant to them, how it was disrupted and how they restored a sense of place. We invited them to share letters – powerful stories that could then be shared beyond Embolden2018. Presentations on sexual abuse, sexuality based discrimination, homelessness and dementia all highlighted how dis-placement can occur and how it can be addressed. Please go to the Embolden2018 Collection by clicking the link here to read letters written by the presenters. 

stories

#25: "This is my dearly loved Nana Irma." Shannon Ryall.

#26. Blair Campbell: "This is my dad Blair at his 80th 2 years ago. And my sister Jane. Jane and I got every one of his friends up dancing on the night...even his friend who had just had a hip replacement. ❤️ you Blair Campbell." Philippa Campbell

#23. Marjorie: "Hard to pick just one but I love this shared moment with my beautiful Grandma, I hope I live as long and strong as her. I often think of all the incredible changes she has seen in her lifetime" - Louise Allwright. Thanks Lou for being the first person to share a family photo and story.

#24. Betty Povalll: "My wonderful, amazing, determined, loving mother Betty Povall. To the matriarch of our ever growing family I truly salute you. Love Helen." Helen Povall

#21. Jude Munro: To me belonging is feeling comfortable whenever I am with my friends and community. I enjoy making new connections and being able to enjoy a laugh with old and new friends.

#22. Joan and Ray Senior: "Here is a beautiful photo of my stepmum and my dad. Joan looked after him at home, even though she's had a stroke and is legally blind. I don't know how she did it but she is amazing and I love her a lot." Debbie Senior.

#19. Dorothy McDonald.

#20. Marg.

#17. Anne Tudor: Belonging is feeling connected to self, others and life.

#18. Kathy Mansfielf: For me, belonging is about family and LGBTI communities and rural communities. It's also about being part of the broader community - that's important as well.

#15. Gary the Cabbie: I've been driving cabs for 37 years. I belong behind the wheel. I 'm in control here. I know where I'm going - or at least I think I do. This young girl got into the cab and said: go faster! So I said to her: listen love, I'm here to get you home safe. She would have only been 21. When I dropped her off I waited to make sure she got inside okay.

#16. Edie Mayhew: I belong wherever I am.

#13. Vendor. Galle, Sri Lanka. I bought too many bags of nuts from this guy because he was delightful and making such a fuss about giving me just the right product. Sri Lankans are beautiful people.

#14: Lottery ticket vendor. Galle Sri Lanka. This man was selling tickets outside the train station - perched next to a massive open drain. It was very hot - but he looked happy.

#11. Busker, Galle - Colombo train Sri Lanka. This man was so joyous ... he bought a smile to everyone's face as he moved up and down the carriage singing.

#12. Seamstress, Galle Sri Lanka. I saw this woman in a tailors shop - the shop was owned by her son and the whole family was in a tiny space, sewing. She looked content.

#9. Masseuse, Galle Sri Lanka. Met this guy on the beach. He said he loved being a masseuse because of the people he got to meet.

#10. Tuk Tuk driver, Galle Sri Lanka. Beautiful man who has been driving a Tuk Tuk for the last 10 years. He used to drive busses but said they were too dangerous.

#7. Crossing Supervisor, Galle, Sri Lanka. This man's job was to sit on the tracks and watch for trains - and then manually lower the boom gates.

#8. Di Alysis: My sense of place? I need to think about that. Can I get back to you?

#5. ​Lizzie Craig: My family give me a sense of place. They give me a reason to be in the world, knowing that I count. I have a really lovely friend and she gives me life long companionship. She helps and empowers me. We have a like mindedness. She understands me. I talk to her about things. We share ideas about how to survive on a pension. I have a strong sense of self but getting old its important to have good friends. I love to dance because it transports me to another place through music, especially at a gay event because I feel like I belong.

#6. This beautiful man was cutting up King Coconuts on the side of the road in Galle, Sri Lanka. I wasn't able to ask him about his sense of place.

#3. Buddhist Monk Kataluwa Purvarama Temple Koggala; Sri Lanka; has been the care taker for this temple since 1967 (he was 15 then). Couldn't converse - but I wondered if the temple was his place.

#4. I bought tobacco from this woman outside the Galle train station in Sri Lanka. She has such a beautiful face. I didn't get to ask her about her sense of place. I wonder what she would have said

#1. Newell Barrett: My sense of belonging is essentially based on my love of our family.

#2. Sheila Barrett: The place where I belong is home.