Mike Rungie has used the Social Role Valorisation framework to shape his understanding and delivering on good frail lives.

Social Role Valorisation (SRV) was developed by Prof. Wolf Wolfensberger, Syracuse University. It shapes how older people (and particularly vulnerable older people) might live good lives. It borrows from how we all do this by focusing on securing roles, that bring us the good things of life, (Thomas 2023, Wolfensberger 2013, Osburn 2006).

SRV starts with the observation that as people grow older, they lose roles and have trouble finding new ones. And that this gets even more pronounced in aged care.

SRV preferences individuals, communities and services to work in ways that imagines roles for older people. Creates role opportunities. And deliberately constructs the building blocks for getting roles: skills, reputations, networks, resources.

This approach requires and shapes very different care. Care that has been demonstrated to be more effective and uplifting for older people and carers alike, even for the frailest older people.

By using SRV, we can also gain a deep understanding of why so many of the recipients of well-intentioned and well-resourced community and aged care services fail to thrive. And what to do about it, that might work for a change.