Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2022 från Australian Carers Guide Vic/Tas

publisher’s message PAUL KOURY – PUBLISHER “Whether you’re new to caring or have been providing care for many years, you will find something interesting, meaningful, and entertaining in every edition.” Hello and welcome to the second edition of the Australian Carers Guide. First thing I’d like to say is a big thank you to all our lovely readers who wrote, emailed and rang us to voice their gratitude for creating this magazine just for you. Your responses confirmed the huge need to have a resource full of practical and educational information for carers. But my highlight was having the privilege of speaking to many of you and hearing your remarkable stories. The proofs in the Print Whatever one does prior to launching a new publication, there is still nothing like…

Self Care 10 tips to help you look good and feel great By Marguerite Weir Photos: CanStock Photo The popular saying, “if you look good, you’ll feel good” is true at any age. It’s never too late. Look for those age-defying secrets that will keep you stylish, happy and self-assured. Remember, feeling great isn’t just about your outward appearance. It’s about boosting your mood, improving your health and maybe even jump-starting your love life! Style yourself Putting on a new outfit may give you the pick-me-up you need. You’ll be fresh, clean and prettier in a matter of moments. But sometimes just adding a more affordable accessory such as a colourful scarf, floppy-brimmed hat or fashionable pashmina is all it takes. Putting away winter clothes and cleaning out your closet…

PUT ON YOUR BUSINESS-MANAGEMENT HAT Carer’s survival checklist ✔ Keep your sense of humour - it can save the day. ✔ Drop the guilt. You cannot solve all issues or do everything yourself. ✔ Exercise every day. ✔ Eat well and limit your alcohol consumption. ✔ Get your sleep and “power nap” when you can. ✔ Stay socially engaged. ✔ Pamper yourself. ✔ Make time for things you enjoy. ✔ Keep your medical and dental appointments. ✔ Ask yourself this question: “Has my health improved since I have been a carer?” Most likely not, so consciously remember to be kind to yourself.…

Do your homework You’re all excited about renovating for Mum or Dad. Before getting started, here are some things to consider. Current and future care: Assess your parents’ present and projected mobility and need for assistive aids, and consider space for live-in carers. Housing needs: Look critically at the size and layout of the available space. Review your home’s proximity to doctors, clinics and other services, and logistics surrounding participation in social and community activities. Social support: Evaluate the amount of space your parents will need to entertain their own friends; their need for transportation to errands and parking. Talk with your parents about their level of desire to be totally independent versus wanting to share some space, time or meals with the family. Be clear: Is your whole family…

Law How to protect your kid’s inheritance Avoiding family provision claims against your estate BY MICHAEL CLOHESY & ELIZA CAMPAIN I’m often asked how to avoid claims against a deceased estate; particularly by people with estranged children. The only truly effective way I suggest is to spend everything before you go. Unfortunately, that is often not a realistic solution and elderly people struggle with the idea that their disrespectful and absent adult child (who may have caused them great personal suffering) could get a share of their hard-earned money after they pass. Parents often wish to reward their ‘good child’ who has spent time and energy supporting, loving and caring for their parents in their twilight years. Unfortunately, parents need to be mindful that a claim may be made against…

Do you know your aged care choices? Seeking additional care for an aging loved one can feel overwhelming. Their loss of independence can be extremely distressing, and expectations weigh heavily on family. PLANNING FOR YOUR NEEDS Being time poor or supporting a family member who is showing resistance to care, means carers often struggle alone. Dana Sawyer from My Care Path explains, “Many carers don’t know their options. Planning together, we consider lifestyle, cultural, family and budgetary considerations, empowering carers to make choices centred around their unique circumstances”. STAYING HOME FOR LONGER Many older Australians prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible and, increasingly, they can. My Care Path’s expert consultants provide highly personalised aged care coordination with empathy and sensitivity, to help families support the…

Who is Carers Tas & Care2Serve Carers Tas is part of the Carers Australia network and has been the Peak Body since 2018. Carers Tas advocates for family and friend carers with government and other agencies to improve legislation, policy and programs. Care2Serve is the service arm of Carers Tas, providing a wide range of state and federal carer-specific supports. Care2Serve is Tasmania’s only Carer Gateway service provider, and one of only ten providers nationally. Care2Serve is a long-term and trusted Home and Community Care provider for the Tasmanian Government. We have offices in Moonah, Launceston and Burnie, but provide outreach services into other cities and towns directly or through our carer kiosk partners.…

expert advice Q & A CAUSES OF SARCOPENIA What causes muscle loss? Experts think that several factors contribute to muscle loss (also known as sarcopenia). Physical inactivity is one of them but it’s not the whole story, since active people also lose muscle. Other reasons might include age-related hormonal changes that reduce muscle cell growth, reduced nerve activity, inflammation, insufficient protein or calorie consumption, and a decline in our body’s ability to get energy from protein. Researchers are working to better understand sarcopenia. For example, one recent study looked at whether eating more protein can help prevent muscle loss in older adults (conclusion: Probably yes, but further research is needed). Another study has explored the connection between muscle health and declining nerve activity (conclusion: Regular exercise might help to grow new…

NEWS VIEWS & MEDIA RELEASES MEDIA RELEASE 27 OCTOBER 2021 My Aged Care to offer Face-to-Face Support The Hon Greg Hunt MP The Morrison Government is creating a one-stop-shop to make it easier for senior Australians and their families to connect to aged care services. Building on the Government’s My Aged Care website and call centre, Services Australia will offer face-to-face support so people can access information about aged care, health and social services in one location. Starting with 15 Initial sites From next week, senior Australians in an initial 15 Services Australia locations will be able to access My Aged Care face-to-face support from specially trained Aged Care Specialist Officers. The opening of these services is a further delivery of the Government’s commitment to improving care for senior Australians,…

This Issue’s Contributors Maree McCabe AM Chief Executive Officer Dementia Australia Rachel Lane Principal - Aged Care Gurus and Co Author of Aged Care, Who Cares Paul Koury Founder - Publisher Australian Carers Guide Mary Bart Chair of Caregiving Matters Rosie Bourton: Former Centrelink Officer Current Financial Advisor Michael Clohesy Wills and Estates at Gathered Here National Head of Legal Services Pat Irwin BA, AICB, CPCA President of ElderCare Wesley Rush Freelance Journalist Theresa Albert DHN, RNCP Will Richardson Puzzles supplied by Richardson Publishing Group Apology: Dealing with Angry and Emotional Elderly Parents article in our Spring Edition was written by Jennifer Brosnan…

Personal Relationships Sexuality and Aging Photos: CanStock Photo How people experience and express their sexuality will change throughout their lives. Aging brings about natural changes, both physically and emotionally, which can affect our reproductive health, sexual intimacy and sexual response or arousal. As we all approach later life, two of the things which brought us the greatest joy and took up most of our energies and time – our children and/or our careers – are no longer as prevalent in our everyday life. This means that our personal relationships take on an increased importance. While the frequency or ability to perform sexually will generally decline modestly as seniors experience the normal, physiological changes that accompany aging. Reports show that the majority of men and women between the ages of 50…

abbreviations When it comes to Aged Care, acronyms are plentiful…ACSA, HCP, CHSP… But what do they all mean? Fear no more. We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly used ones – how they work and their service to the community. ACAT: Aged Care Assessment Team Helps the elderly and their carers determine what kind of support will best meet their needs when they are struggling in their current living situation. Ever had a chat with someone where the talk is littered with acronyms – but you have absolutely no idea what they’re saying? ACAS: Aged Care Assessment Service (Victoria) Only provides teams who help frail older people and their carers, to work out what kind of care will best meet their needs. After each assessment, a patient’s level of…

What is the Carer Gateway? The Australian Government wants to make it easier for carers to access support. For this reason, Carer Gateway was launched in 2020 that means carers need only one phone number or go through one website to obtain support in their caring roles. Care2Serve is the Carer Gateway serviceprovider for all of Tasmania. Connect with other carers Meet with people in similar caring situations and share your stories, knowledge and experiences. -meetlocalcarers share advice and learn from each other in a safe space. -Workshopsareavailableon different topics aimed at connecting, supporting and empowering. Financial support Get financial support to assist you in your caring role. Financial support packages: one-off - practical meet local support carers, in share the form advice of and equipment learn from…

YOUR FEEDBACK We’ve got mail Hello fellow carers Since publishing our first edition, we received so many emails and dare I say snail mail, that it was hard to choose which 3 to include in this issue. Some wrote simply to express their appreciation but most of you wrote to express the variety of difficulties you were having caring for your elderly loved ones. I was personally touched by your stories and the good news is that there are some wonderful changes coming to our Aged Care sector since the Royal Commission handed down its recommendations. So, stay tuned. AVOIDING BURNOUT A friend was lucky enough to get a copy of your magazine. They were sold out when I tried. My daughter is such a saint and looks after her…

Family caring Double Trouble Caring for Both Parents BY MARY BART Sandy’s world has been turned upside down. In the last four months, her mom has had a severe stroke and her dad has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Sandy struggles to think about how on Earth she will manage. How can she take care of her parents and her own family and keep working? Let’s help Sandy double her chances of success being a carer as she deals with the double-whammy she now faces. Here are some great ideas that will help Sandy and others who are caring for several people at the same time. Providing care is a job and it needs to be run as a business. This means getting organised. Providing care is a job and it…

Supporting Carers Across Victoria As the peak body for carers in Victoria, Carers Victoria provides a range of supports for unpaid carers across the state. SUPPORT FOR CARERS PROGRAM The Support for Carers Program provides respite, other services and supports for all Victorian carers (including young carers - carers under 25 years), who are caring for someone who: Is older with care needs; Has a mental illness; Has a chronic illness; Has a disability; Has dementia (including younger-onset dementia). The program focuses on person-centered care and supports through: One-off or short-term support for carers including goods and equipment, that can add to other services or fill service gaps; Support to people in a care relationship, at the same time and same place if people want to be together while receiving…

Recipes meals that heal BY KARA O’ROURKE & ANNE DIGBY Hi Everyone, Summer is here, more freedoms are here, and it has given us a renewed zest for life. These recipes have been selected for their nutritional benefits and guaranteed to put a spring in your step. I had to include my foodie friend Anne’s refreshing Quinoa salad and her favourite Zucchini bread recipes. Often eaten together and will leave you feeling light and full of energy. Enjoy preparing these meals and don’t forget the secret sauce of ‘love’ which makes all meals taste bellissima. Green Pikelets I have huge respect for baby spinach. It is basically tasteless so you can throw it in almost anything. But its nutritional profile is what makes it so incredible. With a decent amount…