#101 Ageing Without Children and Advance Care Planning with Penny Shepherd

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Penny Shepherd. Penny is the coordinator and co-founder of Ageing Without Children East Kent (AWOC East Kent), a group run by and for people who are ageing without the support of adult children, either because they never had children or for other reasons. 

We explore the Advance Care Planning challenges and healthcare assumptions faced by people who are ageing without children and the campaigning work of AWOC.

This episode is released ahead of International Day of Older Persons on 1 October.

Key messages from our discussion

• Penny describes the development of AWOC and shares the statics available for people who are ageing without children

• The shared experiences of people who are ageing without children are explored

• The advocacy role of described by Penny, a role often fulfilled by adult children

Resource

• Access the Ageing Without Children website

• Read Minister's social care ideas ignore the million childless over-65s This article is more than 7 years old Kirsty Woodard 

• Read Penny’s blog Ageing Without Children: Advance Care Planning 

• Find out more about the role of an IMCA

Bio: 

Penny Shepherd is the coordinator and co-founder of Ageing Without Children East Kent (AWOC East Kent), a group run by and for people who are ageing without the support of adult children, either because they never had children or for other reasons. 

In a varied career, Penny has been a charity and trade association Chief Executive, an environmental campaigner, an information technology specialist, a community energy champion and a consumer advocate in the water and energy sectors. A common theme is new and better solutions to emerging social issues. She is also a carer and holds or has held lasting powers of attorney for various family members. She is researching the “missing manual” on advance care planning for people without someone they trust.

AWOC East Kent is a local group within the network run by the charity Ageing Without Children (AWOC UK). It provides informal peer support and information, and works with other local organisations to ensure that the needs of people ageing without children are included in policy, planning and services for older people.