Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2022 i Australian Carers Guide Vic/Tas

Hello readers and welcome to the Winter 2022 edition of the Australian Carers Guide. Thank you to those who have called or written in to express your appreciation for our guide. We are continually humbled by your comments and appreciate your feedback. It is truly a labour of love for us as we work to ensure that all carers can find practical, educational and helpful content all in one place. Our mission remains to reach and support as many of our 1.3 million primary carers as we can. What happened to the Autumn edition? To everyone who contacted us wondering where the Autumn edition went, we did not publish it, this year. Reason being, that last year when we went to launch Edition 1 in Spring 2021, instead of the…

NIGHT OWLS AND EARLY BIRDS People who stay up late and sleep in the morning tend to be smarter, science says. Although night owls are often thought to be unproductive, that’s not what evidence shows. Researchers at the University of Liège in Belgium have found that an hour after waking up, early-risers and their nocturnal contemporaries show approximately the same degree of alertness. Tested again 10.5 hours after waking, it was the night owls who were more alert. So much for the early bird catching the worm! Source: entrepreneur.com PROTEIN POWER Eggs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, high-quality proteins, good fats and various other lesser-known nutrients. Eggs also contain small amounts of almost every vitamin and mineral required by the human body, including calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, vitamin E,…

She says her responsibility includes showering him, shaving him, cutting his hair, preparing his meals, taking him to appointments and meeting loved ones. She finds it draining at times with little time for herself. Mary is one of over 80,000 Tasmanian unpaid informal carers of a loved one with disability, mental ill health, chronic or life-limiting condition, or drug or alcohol dependence, or frail or aged. In fact, Tasmania’s carer ratio is the highest in the nation at 1:6. Tasmania is ageing faster than mainland states and it is common for informal family carers to be caring for someone over 65 years of age. In fact, as the average age of carers is 55 years, it is equally common for many carers to be older themselves. Recently, when Mary desperately…

Well-Being Hi, my name is Karen and I am the primary carer for my mother Enid who is in her mid 80’s. Thank God, my mother is relatively independent so not extremely demanding but the little I had to do was extremely difficult. Knowing that I had a few years of caring in front of me, I was perplexed as to why I was always fatigued. I could barely keep up with life, and I didn’t know why everyone else seemed way more together than I was. I finally realised that it wasn’t because I was disorganised or inadequate but rather because I felt sick more often than I felt well. In fact, sometimes I felt so sick that I wasn’t able to help my beautiful mum. Often, everyday tasks…

1 Clean up clutter. The easiest method for preventing falls is to keep your home neat and tidy. Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines, especially from hallways and staircases. 2 Repair or remove tripping hazards. Sometimes home fixtures can contribute to falls, which can then lead to back pain and other injuries. Examine every room and hallway, looking for items such as loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, remove, or replace those items for more effective fall prevention. 3 Install grab bars and handrails. These safety devices are crucial for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and stepping in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Gary Kaplan, DO, founder and medical director…

Software village guru proves a hit with community operators and consumers alike Transitioning to a Retirement Village is a complex business Six months ago, Rachel Lane launched Village Guru, a software programme designed to take the financial confusion out of downsizing to a Retirement Community, and it’s proving to be a big hit with operators and consumers alike. “My motivation was actually very simple, almost every person that I spoke to who had downsized to a Retirement Village or Land Lease Community (including my own grandma) said the same thing “My only regret is not moving sooner” I wanted to remove the financial confusion from that decision. Rachel understands people’s confusion about exit fees, Age Pension, Rent Assistance and Home Care Package costs, with delays being weeks, months or sometimes,…

Gemma Poole Aged Care Group Australian Government Department of Health Maree McCabe AM Chief Executive Officer Dementia Australia Helen Walker Education Specialist OPAN: Older peoples Advocacy Network Rachel Lane Principal - Aged Care Gurus and Co Author of Aged Care, Who Cares Paul Koury Founder - Publisher Australian Carers Guide Andrea Alvarez Aged Care Decisions Lead Generation Manager Michael Clohesy Wills and Estates at Gathered Here National Head of Legal Services Will Richardson Puzzles supplied by Richardson Publishing Group Carers VIC: www.carersvictoria.org.au Carers TAS: www.carerstas.org…

Hello fellow carers. Thank you to all of you that wrote to us and shared your stories. We read each of the over 300 emails and letter we received. In needs to be said that we are continually humbled by your selfless commitment to your elderly loved ones irrespective of their appreciation or lack thereof. We want to let ever carer know how we appreciate you. You are all saints who continually sacrifice yourself to provide daily care to your elderly loved ones. No greater love is there than to set aside your life to love and care for another. UNRULY BEHAVIOUR Hi, my mother is now 80 and her social and etiquette skills have decreased dramatically. The other day, she just stood in front of my husband with just…

SPIDER PLANTS FOR MOISTURE Furnaces and air conditioners can sap humidity. A collection of spider plants can boost the relative humidity in a bedroom from 20 per cent to a comfortable 30 per cent. ASPARAGUS FERN TO PURIFY AIR Carpets, paint cleaners and print toner give off pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can irritate your eyes, skin and worsen asthma. Plants are good air-scrubbers soaking up VOCs. HERBS FOR BETTER DIGESTION Mint may help to tamp down bloating or gas. You can grow common varieties such as peppermint and spearmint (essential in mint juleps) in containers. Basil, another good cooking herb, can also help to calm your stomach. Try steeping the leaves in hot water. RELAX WITH LAVENDER This fragrant purple plant has been an important herbal medicine…

CARER The Carer is telling me that my father is difficult to care for, but he seems fine when I’m around. What should I do? Your father may be having some difficulty with a stranger in his home, which may be leading him to appear to be difficult with the Carer. You should ask your father, when the carer is not present, how he is feeling about having the care. He may be more comfortable speaking to you when you are alone. You should also ask the Carer what he/she means by “difficult.” Is it a personality conflict? It may just mean that a change in carer is required. GETTING ENOUGH REST How long should a healthy elder sleep? It is commonly thought that the older we get, the less…

CEO DEMENTIA AUSTRALIA Confronting the Myths Here are the most common myths which perpetuate misleading information and stigma about Alzheimer’s disease and the other forms of dementia. MYTH 1 “Dementia is a natural part of ageing” Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. It is a group of neurodegenerative diseases that affect both young people (younger onset dementia) and older people (those aged over 65). Dementia is a social and health condition, not just an aged care issue. Dementia is the second leading cause of death of Australians and the leading cause of death of women in Australia. MYTH 2 “Dementia is untreatable and cannot be slowed down” There is no cure for dementia, but early symptoms can be managed through a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Early diagnosis is…

My work as a sociology researcher suggests the answer is both yes, and no. Yes, jumping on the band wagon of the latest new technology can end up costing you time and money. But no, because sometimes that new technology can help to change your life for the better. So how do you work out the difference? For many years now, I have been working with groups of older people to introduce them to new technologies and talk to people about what technologies they use and why they use them. The stories I have been gathering over the years offer some good life lessons for all of us. STREAMLINING YOUR LIFE All carers face huge challenges. There never seems to be enough time to do everything in a day, and…

LET’S LOOK AT STANLEY Stanley’s situation regarding permanent aged care was a big issue for him. However, Stanley’s dilemma can be resolved. The assistance of a skilled advisor qualified in how the aged care system works and with experience in the social security system can be invaluable. Stanley lived independently at home but required assistance and had been assessed for and was in receipt of a level 4 home care package. Over time as his health declined, Stanley found it more and more difficult to manage at home. Covid issues meant that Stanley and his family delayed his entry to permanent residential aged care even though he had been re-assessed as requiring it. As an interim measure Stanley moved in with one of his two daughters who both acted as…

DOWNSIZING MADE SIMPLE Book Review by Rachel Lane When you’ve lived your dreams, it’s time for new ones. The four-bed, two-bath home you loved … the pool you couldn’t get the kids out of … they’ve had their day. Downsizing isn’t about living in a tiny home - unless you want to - it’s about rightsizing your home for the next chapter in life. That’s the opinion of personal finance expert Noel Whittaker who’s teamed up with Aged Care Guru Rachel Lane to write, Downsizing Made Simple. In the book Lane and Whittaker explain the dos and don’ts of downsizing. They guide you through the legal and financial maze, explain how a move can affect your lifestyle, superannuation, pension and benefits and share some real-life stories from readers. Whether you’re…

TIPS FOR WALKING SAFELY THIS WINTER With winter comes rain and sometime black ice on our roads and footpaths. Try to find ways you can protect yourself from falling. Here are some practical suggestions. The right shoes: For warmth and stability choose shoes that are waterproof, lightweight, well-insulated and have low, wide heels. Make sure the tread is thick, non-slip and made of natural rubber. Consider: It’s your feet that’s the only body part that makes contact with the ground. Therefore, we should pay more attention to our footwear. We do when buying car tyres, so even more so when it comes to footwear. Chose a pair with wide soles, non-slip soles and are comfortable can help. I suggest seeing a podiatrist to make sure the inner fit suits your…

Our goal is for all Australians to feel confident about accessing high quality and safe aged care, when and where they need it. The first year of the Government’s 5-year reform of aged care has been one of solid progress and there is much more that remains to be done. The Australian Government is committed to a new era of aged care for Australia – putting the care and changing needs of senior Australians first. We have a real opportunity to transform the industry – and the day-to-day lives of people accessing and working in aged care and those who care for them. HELP TO FIND THE RIGHT AGED CARE SERVICES We’ve already made changes to make it easier for senior Australians and their carers to find safe, high-quality aged…

KEY FACTS Falls usually happen because gradual changes to our bodies make walking difficult, or they can be caused by hazards in and around the home. Falls can cause hip fractures and other injuries that require lengthy hospital care and long-term effects. See your doctor for a check-up if you have ever fallen before, even if you weren’t injured as a result. WHY MIGHT OLDER PEOPLE FALL? If someone falls, it’s not necessarily because they are not concentrating or they are clumsy. Reasons why older people might have a fall include: CHANGES TO THE BODY Our bodies change gradually and over many years as part of the normal ageing process. As you get older, you may notice: balance problems, such as feeling unsteady when you walk weaker muscles that,…

BURNOUT COMING I’ve been rushed off my feet at work and I’m caring for my aunt each evening. It’s exhausting and her own kids don’t ever seem to notice or appreciate it. Should I say something? Most definitely. There are many reasons why others don’t step up when it comes to caregiving, some more reasonable than others. You are being very generous but there is no harm in asking for your aunt’s children to step up or at least to help arrange for alternate care. If you don’t get anywhere, check with her family doctor for advice and a possible referral for homecare. SKIN RASH Recently I noticed my carer has a nasty rash on her hands and arms. It’s awkward to ask her about it but I’m concerned it…

Hi Everyone, Winter is knocking on our door with a frosty fist but a welcoming hand of hospitality is awaiting this chilling season. In this edition, I have included some wonderful winter warmers that I hope you enjoy. This hearty cauliflower soup is full of goodness and will warm you up on those cold, wintery days. As the days grow shorter and the nights are longer, we all need a good ‘pick-me-up’ at the end of the day. Nothing will satisfy better than a dessert like this delicious and simple to bake, Crème Caramel. Enjoy!! Curried Cauliflower Soup A hearty SUPERFOOD in one big pot. Cauliflower is rich in nutrients, is a great source of antioxidants and is great for your skin, eyes, and hair. INGREDIENTS Olive Oil1 chopped onion2…