Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2022 i Australian Carers Guide NSW/ ACT

Hello everyone. Welcome to the Spring 2022 edition of the Australian Carers Guide. Can you believe it’s been a year already since we published our first edition Spring 2021? When we launched this magazine, we were pretty confident that it would be well received with but had no idea just how popular and helpful it has proven to be. Needless to say, we wouldn’t be here and thriving if it wasn’t for you, our loyal reader, and the other thousands of informal carers who read our magazine each issue. Meeting you in person Now that public gatherings are on their way back, we have attended two Care and Aging expose since our last edition, one in Perth and the other in Melbourne. I was blessed to have met you, and…

Hello fellow carers, We continue to receive so many emails and hand written letters with your feedback and stories. We enjoy reading them and again it was hard to choose which ones to publish. I think we might have to allocate an extra page to add more of the wonderful feedback we receive. Taking care of myself Life as carer is never easy. After caring for my aunt for the past six years, I’ve been feeling anything but healthy. A few weeks back, my sister found a copy of the Australian Carers Guide from Spring 2021 and the article on Self Care not being Selfish made the lights come on for me. It helped me to see caring from a whole different perspective. I now have a very little guilt…

1 Shoes: It is important to consider the type of shoes that you are wearing if you are having trouble with balance. Make sure that you have solid shoes that support your feet and ankles. Make sure that they have a sturdy non-slip sole and that they fit correctly. It can be very slippery to walk around in slip on shoes or socks around the house, so try to wear the shoes to minimise chances of falls. 2 Environment: Make sure that you have assessed your environment to see if you can make some changes to reduce falls risk. This includes making sure that there are not things on the floor that can be tripped over and ensuring that rugs are firmly attached. This also includes any power cables across…

1 Visit the doctor Because hoarding is connected to health conditions or mental health issues, it’s likely that your older adult will need professional help. Having their doctor do a full evaluation will help figure out if the behavior is caused by dementia or other medical conditions. 2 Consider therapy If the issue isn’t related to a medical condition, therapy (sometimes in combination with medication) is a way to help seniors manage their hoarding behavior 3 Encourage them to declutter with kindness and compassion Be patient and compassionate and go slowly Break down the task into clearing small areas or rooms over time rather than trying to tackle everything at once Treat even small steps as a victory – throwing away one or two items could be a major event…

Family members and friends often find themselves in the role of a carer when a loved one is living with dementia. Caring for your loved one can be rewarding and can also have its tougher days. As you care for someone with dementia, you may not be taking as much care of your own emotional, mental or physical wellbeing. It is important that you take care of yourself or the demands may wear you down which can make caring more difficult. You need support and assistance to care for someone with dementia to continue balancing your needs with those of your family and the person with dementia. Things to remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE There are a large number of carer support groups throughout Australia. Many people find comfort and…

NMF Welcomes ‘Historic’ Aged Care Reform Laws Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and its members welcome the Albanese Government’s introduction of new Legislation which will ensure that a registered nurse (RN) is on-site in every nursing home 24/7 and that residents receive a minimum amount of safe, quality care every day. The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 delivers on the Prime Minister’s preelection pledge to reform the troubled aged care sector and implement the Aged Care Royal Commission’s most critical recommendations. “This is a truly historic day for ANMF members working in aged care,” ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said today. “While implementation of these crucial reforms will take some time and will need to be phased in over…

I think my kids are ready to have a “talk” with me. I’m living on my own quite happily but they are worried that its only a matter of time before something not so nice happens. Any suggestion? As we age and the potential for challenges increases, there will be a need to have “The Talk.” This discussion with those who care about you should detail the anticipated outcomes in your own affairs, health and safety. It is about being proactive, not reactive. Key areas to consider include: • Accommodation – how long can you remain independent in your own home or in a seniors’ residence? If you are still living at home, what would trigger a need for additional support or home care services? When do you feel is…

The Hon Anike Wells Australian Government Department of Health Maree McCabe AM Chief Executive Officer Dementia Australia Jean Kittson Author Public figure Public speaker Aged Care advocate Dr Paul Rothstein Patent attorney at Bortstein Legal Group Rachel Lane Principal – Aged Care Gurus and Co Author of Aged Care, Who Cares Paul Koury Founder – Publisher Australian Carers Guide Rita Merienne Aged Care Advocate Publisher and Founder of Agedcarewithease.com.au Jolene Hill Owner and Founder Yourlifetalks.com.au Jacqui Williams End of Life Doula Funeral Celebrant & End of Life Transitions Will Richardson Puzzles supplied by Richardson Publishing Group…

As some of you may know, Jean Kittson has been a public figure in Australia for many years and was recently a participant on Celebrity Apprentice broadcast in May 2022. She is also a regular panellist on ABC 702 radio drive program, Thank God It’s Friday. She has been a columnist with New Weekly, Sunday Telegraph, the Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney Magazine, Inspire Magazine, the Readers Digest Health Smart Magazine. She is probably still best known for her work as a comedian on The Big Gig, Let the Blood Run Free, the Great Debates and more recently in the Squeaky Gate olive oil ads. She will appear in a new Aussie movie in November this year, “Seriously Red.” She is an Ambassador for the Macular Disease Foundation and the…

TRADITIONAL PILL ORGANISERS DON’T WORK WELL IN COMPLEX MEDICATION SITUATIONS The average pill organiser typically has compartments for the day of the week and the time of day – morning, afternoon, and night. More complex pill organiser systems can also account for specific times of day or more frequent medication doses. However, these pill organisers often don’t work as well when a medication routine is more complicated or includes non-pill formats. Scenarios that don’t work well with a typical pill organiser include: The medication isn’t a pill. Some medications are powders that have to be mixed with liquids just before taking, medical syrups, ointments, patches, or other formats. A medication must be taken first thing in the morning and then the person can’t eat for the next hour. A medication…

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 are 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 support and service needs are recommended. ACF/ACH: Aged Care Facility or Aged Care Home Accommodation for older people who can no longer live at home independently, who require help/support for everyday tasks/health care. ACIA: Aged Care Industry Association (ACIA) Association…

Jean Kittson is widely known for being an actor, performer and writer. What many don’t know is that she is also a carer for her parents. Jean will be in Hobart as a special guest of Carer Gateway to celebrate National Carers Week at a special morning tea for carers and invited guests – 18th October. COPIES OF JEAN’S BOOK WILL BE GIVEN TO ATTENDEES IN THE NATIONAL CARERS WEEK MORNING TEA. When she visits, Jean will be talking with carers about her own caring journey, the challenges she has confronted, and the rewards and frustrations. Of course, it wouldn’t be Jean Kittson if she didn’t talk about her experiences without touches of her trademark humour. Jean has written about her caring role in a book published in 2020 called…

Why does mobility decrease? Decreased mobility and balance are often believed to be an inevitable consequence of aging. Impairments in balance is one of the most common reasons for falls to occur in the aging population. Balance can however be significantly improved if it is managed correctly, identified early, and treated appropriately alongside your healthcare professional. This allows greater independence for individuals with a decreased risk of falls. The key to improving balance impairments involves correct identification of the underlying cause. There are many different medical conditions which can cause a change in balance such as diabetes, vertigo, visual impairment, some medications and cognitive conditions. Maintaining balance requires inputs from a visual stimulus, the vestibular system of the inner ear as well as our muscles and joints sending sensory input…

Meet the new Minister for Aged Care and Sport – The Hon Anika Wells MP AGED CARE PRIORITIES & COMMITMENTS We went to the election with a plan for aged care, which will see: a registered nurse in every aged care facility on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week mandating every Australian in aged care receive 215 minutes of care per day a pay rise for aged care workers better food for residents an increase in transparency and accountability for how tax-payer dollars are spent. I want to give Australians hope the future of aged care is better. There have already been improvements. But there is still a lot of work to do to get to the aged care future we want in this country. This kind…

During the election campaign the Albanese government promised to “fix the aged care crisis” and in the first weeks of the new government they have introduced two bills, one of those bills has already passed, and they have ordered a review of aged care regulator. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said “We are wasting no time getting on with the job with fixing the aged care system.” The first bill, The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 seeks to legislate many of Labor’s election promises. It will mandate a registered nurse to be on-site at an aged care home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bill will also introduce reporting requirements to address the “lack of accountability and transparency” identified by the Aged Care Royal Commission.…

NEW AT CARING I’ve begun in-home care for a friend who had a sudden stroke. Even with previous caring experience (for a family member who lived with gradual dementia), it feels like I’m starting over and unprepared. Family carers generally earn their job title in one of two ways: the gradual “sneak-up mode” or abrupt “crisis mode.” No matter how you entered into your caring role, you may have to make changes in your personal and work life. Resources abound. Check out australiancarersguide.com.au for a great library of back issues and articles about homecare, safety tips, seniors housing, long-term care, retirement planning and how to avoid carer burnout, to mention but a few. You might also check your provincial health services website and organisations like the Alzheimer or Parkinson Society…

Hello to my fellow carers. Spring has sprung, and it’s always a special time of the year as we say goodbye to the winter and welcome the warmer weather in. Celebrate this special time of the year with our freshest recipes to try this spring. Enjoy!! Tomato, Avocado and Chickpea Salad This high-protein vitamin and mineral packed salad is perfect as an accompaniment to a spring picnic, or a main meal while entertaining. Crisp, and colourful, it is a beautiful addition to your spring function, wherever that may be. INGREDIENTS 250g cherry tomatoes600g tinned chickpeas125g spinach leaves250g tinned corn1 avocado diced2 tbsp white wine vinegar and olive oil METHOD Drain corn, and brown in a fry-pan over high heat. Set aside to cool. Drain and rinse chick peas. Cut cherry…