Conference 2025 – Getting older

MONIQUE MANZANERA

Monique Manzanera is Haemophilia Social Worker at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW

What now? I’m still here (Getting older)

Chair ~ Dr Liane Khoo
What now? I’m still here: navigating ageing with a bleeding disorder ~ Dr Liane Khoo
Patient story ~ Neill
Getting to the heart of the matter – cardiovascular issues in people with bleeding disorders ~ Dr Caroline Dix
HIV, hepatitis C and liver health – changing the focus for an ageing population ~ A/Prof Krispin Hajkowicz
Preparing for future needs ~ Yu-Hsuan (Yoshi) Lin
General panel discussion and Q&A ~ panel joined by Penny McCarthy

Dr Liane Khoo opened the Getting Older session with an insightful overview of ageing with a bleeding disorder, introducing attendees to the concept of GOAT – Getting Older and keeping Active and Terrific!

She reminded us that age is not a barrier to achievement and highlighted the importance of adaptability and expanding multidisciplinary care in supporting people as they age. Her presentation set the tone for an important discussion on the unique challenges faced by the ageing bleeding disorders community, including staying active, building trust with care teams, and seeking support when needed.

The session continued with a moving personal story shared by Neill, who spoke candidly about his experience ageing with haemophilia. He emphasized the value of regular check-ups with GPs and specialists, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and adapting to changes in treatment. Neill shared how newer therapies – particularly emicizumab (Hemlibra®) – have been life-changing for him.

Next, Dr Caroline Dix presented Getting to the Heart of the Matter, which focused on cardiovascular health in people with haemophilia. She discussed the increased risk of heart disease and stressed the importance of preventative care. Dr Dix highlighted that, thanks to significant advances in haemophilia treatment over the past 50 years, people with bleeding disorders are living longer – making health promotion and disease prevention more important than ever.

Associate Professor Krispin Hajkowicz then addressed HIV, hepatitis C, and liver health, shifting the focus to issues affecting an ageing population. He discussed lifestyle interventions, harm reduction strategies, emerging therapies, and future directions in liver care – offering both guidance and hope for ongoing management.

The session concluded with Yu-hsuan (Yoshi) Lin, who spoke on preparing for future needs. Yoshi addressed chronic joint damage and its impact on independence, falls prevention, social isolation, the psychological burden of chronic illness, and the natural stressors of ageing. She left the audience with a powerful message about the importance of living longer, fuller, and more connected lives.