Healthy & Well

As the latest COVID-19 wave continues, the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care will begin publishing vaccination rates for individual residential aged care homes.

Aged care residents with mental illness are finding it hard to access mental health services, with a new study finding that less than three per cent of residents with mental health conditions obtained treatment in 2016/17.

Following a successful five-year pilot, the New Zealand Ministry of Health has approved a new “small town” model for dementia care villages.

A Queensland aged care home has set up a model train room with the help of Dementia Support Australia (DSA) to help residents keep their minds active.

“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger,” said the 18th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche and I think that applies to the message at the heart of last week’s National Palliative Care Weekwhich was: Dying to talk: Talking about dying won’t kill you.

Australians self-managing their Home Care Packages (HCPs) feel like they receive greater choice, more control, lower costs and more consistency of care than they would from traditional home care packages managed by providers.

The title of a booklet caught my eye recently. It read, “I’m old, not stupid – What older people think but don’t say.” It describes itself as the ‘must read book’ for family members with elderly relatives. The title pulled me up because it echoed my own irritation about the way many ‘younger’ people so often speak to and interact with older people. As if older people (whatever age that is), despite their many decades and depth of experience on the planet, are somehow no longer normal, intelligent adults.

The Maggie Beer Foundation has partnered with Altura Learning to launch online training modules for aged care chefs and improve the food quality in residential homes. The resource, Aged care skills for cooks and chefs, features Maggie Beer herself alongside qualified chefs and dietitians, and includes 11 video training modules and assessments, with the aim of improving food standards for aged care residents. Maggie (pictured right) said older Australians deserve flavourful, nutritious food. “I’ve made it my mission to improve the lives of an entire generation of people living in aged care.

The aged care sector has a new industry peak body to advocate for reform, with Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) joining together as the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) from the beginning of this month.

The Rotary Club of West Mount Gambier has donated 40 music therapy headsets to South Australian aged care provider Boandik for people with dementia. The headsets, funded by a community drive as well as a Rotary Foundation District Grant, can play preloaded and personalised music and will be used for music intervention to improve the lives of residents with dementia and their caregivers. According to Boandik’s dementia specialist, Vincent Taylor, music not only evokes memories but stimulates many different parts of the brain at the same time.

Queensland-based Not For Profit Carinity has launched its 2022 Chaplains Appeal, seeking donations to support its chaplaincy programs in aged care and other settings. Carinity’s chaplains have provided spiritual services to aged care communities as well as schools, hospitals, and prisons across Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aged care chaplains such as Gill Johnson (pictured right) offer both guidance and friendly chats to residents, the provider says. “Our residents have complex needs: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual.

A World War II veteran has released a memoir of his extraordinary life to coincide with his 100th birthday.

The Federal Government is investing $273.1 million over four years to provide subsidised continuous glucose monitoring devices to all 130,000 Australians with Type 1 diabetes. The devices, which monitor blood glucose levels without the need for finger pricks and previously cost up to $5,000 per year, will now be accessible by Australians aged 21 years and over through pharmacies for a co-payment of $32.50 per month, or $390 per year.

A qualified dietitian is joining the 11-person Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council, to offer her expertise in best-practice nutrition for aged care. Julie Dundon (pictured), Subject Matter Lead – Aged Care at Dietitians Australia, has loong been a campaigner for better nutrition standards in residential care homes, including annual food audits and mandatory malnutrition screening. Dietitians Australia Chief Executive Officer Robert Hunt described her as a “fierce advocate and tenacious champion” against malnutrition, which he labelled a “silent abuser”.

As the Australian population continues to age, home care provider Five Good Friends has launched a recruitment drive seeking 750 new carers. Five Good Friends, which currently employs just over 1000 care staff, is looking to double that number in the next few years as the over-65 population approaches 20 per cent by 2030. According to CEO Simon Lockyer, the company wants to build out its ranks to avoid being caught short when demand spikes in the future.

Home care workers at Goodwin Aged Care in Canberra will have a new, greener way to get around, with utility company ActewAGL and Council on the Ageing (COTA) teaming up to provide a free Hyundai Ioniq electric car for the next 12 months. Part of a new pilot program, the car will be used by nurses to deliver home care services in and around Canberra, with an ActewAGL charging station also in the bargain. According to Goodwin Chief Operating Officer Stephen Holmes, Goodwin is moving towards more environmentally-friendly aged care, including at its Goodwin Village site in Farrer.

A new resource has been launched to help aged care providers deliver more inclusive and diverse care. The Inclusive Health and Ageing website, set up by Not For Profit provider Bolton Clarke with Government funding, includes information, resources, and research for aged care professionals and consumers about caring for people with diverse backgrounds. According to Bolton Clarke Principal Advisor Wellness and Reablement Kath Paine, the site helps carers better understand people’s individual needs through the intersection of diversity characteristics.

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) has now been legalised in all six states – but not the territories – with NSW passing its own bill in a conscience vote after protracted debate. From the end of 2023, VAD will available to all adults who are suffering due to terminal illnesses with prognoses of less than six months (or twelve months for degenerative neurological conditions), and give voluntary and enduring consent.

A new gallery room at Regis Rosebud aged care home in Capel Sound, Victoria, is giving residents a place to display their handiwork from art therapy.

A group from Catholic Healthcare’s Jemalong aged care home in Forbes, NSW, has enjoyed a hot air balloon flight thanks to the provider’s “MyWish” program.

Residents at Helping Hand’s Lealholme aged care home in Port Pirie, South Australia, will have an easier time getting around town with a new accessible 12-seater bus.

MiCare and Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) will take over Yarra Ranges Council’s aged care services starting next month. The local government in Melbourne’s outer eastern and northeastern suburbs is one of many in Victoria pulling out of aged care due to the Federal Government’s upcoming Support at Home program. Starting 1 July, Domestic Assistance, Individual Social Support, Personal Care and Respite Care services will be provided by MiCare and VMCH, while Property Maintenance and Home Modification services will be delivered by Uniting AgeWell.

65-year-old retiree finds new passion – designing stylish hospital gowns Bob Beveridge, a retired army sergeant, had the idea for Hospital Glamour after his wife and co-founder Sharon broke her wrist in five places and landed herself in hospital. In pain and trapped in an old, frayed gown that she couldn’t fasten up herself, she found herself feeling depressed and embarrassed. “My wife just wanted to feel more like herself in hospital which made me question why the outdated hospital gowns had never been updated over the years or designed better to ensure a bit of dignity,” Mr Beveridge says.

Australia’s first over-50 golf and country club to be built on Queensland’s Gold Coast QLD-based land lease developer Halcyon will build the village at Mirvac’s Gainsborough Greens community at Pimpama, 50km south of Brisbane. The 46 hectares (114 acres) site will be Halcyon’s eighth community and largest with over 500 homes. The deal includes the Gainsborough Greens Golf Club, 18-hole golf course and 34 hectares of residential development land.

The CSIRO have unveiled the results of their annual Healthy Diet Score and it’s not good news for anyone. The survey of 86,000 people found 99 per cent of Australians were eating too much junk food – with alcohol the main discretionary food for those 30 and up – with an average score of only 59 out of 100. But when it comes to the old story that the over-50’s are the biggest drinkers, the data proved otherwise with those aged 31 to 50 edging out the older generation. 51 to 71-year-olds had an average of 17.6 serves of alcohol a week – the younger group had 19.9 a week. A daily tipple?

Located in Harrow northwest of London, Sai Ram Villa opened its doors recently with one major difference – there is no meat being served up in this aged care home (nursing home). Owner Sandip Ruparelia runs 16 nursing homes across the UK and has over three decades of experience in running them in the local area. So why did he decided to open a vegetarian-only home? “I have had a dream of opening a home in Harrow that serves vegetarian food only. Harrow is a very multicultural community and this home is open to everyone,” he said.

Falls are common in older people and they can be prevented. Unsafe footwear greatly contributes to the risk of falling. Inappropriate footwear, such as high heels or shoes that are too tight or too heavy, can make the foot or ankle unstable. It can also cause or worsen corns, bunions or other painful conditions, which have been shown to increase a senior’s risk of falling as well.

Eating healthy is not only essential for maintaining good physical health, but it also plays a crucial role in supporting your cognitive function and memory retention. So, it's essential to incorporate healthy eating habits into your lifestyle to ensure that your brain is functioning at its best.

Alino Living’s residential aged care facility Killarney Court in Killarney Vale on the NSW Central Coast welcomed two 12-week-old King Charles Cavalier puppies to its 60-people community this month.

As we get older, taking care of our bodies becomes more important than ever. One way to do that is by incorporating exercise into our daily routines. Exercise can help us maintain muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular health, while also improving our balance, flexibility, and overall wellbeing.

It is often a gradual realisation that a parent is not coping as well as they used to at home. Even when you consider that a parent, or parents, might need some form of care there are more hurdles to overcome. Your parent, or parents, may vehemently disagree and your own partner may not support your thinking.

A 10-year published study has shown that if people embrace six positive lifestyle choices the rate of memory decline slows.

A fall at a later stage in life can be scary, and can even cause some serious damage. A sense of balance is not something we’re all equipped with, so as you age, falls can be a real sense of anxiety. However, there are lots of things you can do to prevent falling by improving your balance.

One in four adults can have a persistent cough long after having a viral infection or common cold. Is it something to worry about, especially if you are over 50 years of age?

“Care suites” are becoming the new benchmark for long-tern aged care, the term originating from residents of New Zealand operator Arvida.

An Australian-first trial is seeking to address the lack of targeted treatment for social cognitive impairments in seniors. The Not For Profit home care provider Silverchain, UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), and the University of Queensland (UQ) are aiming to slow the decline of cognitive abilities and dementia by enhancing the social cognitive skills of older adults with cognitive concerns.

A clinical trial involving more than 7,000 aged care residents from 60 Melbourne and regional aged care homes in Victoria has found a small increase in the amount of dairy and protein a resident receives could have considerable health benefits for older Australians.

There are over 280,000 Australians working in aged cares homes across Australia with another 80,000 providing home care support – and now it’s time to thank them for their hard work.

Catherina will celebrate her 111th birthday with family and friends at Southern Cross Care’s West Beach Residential Care home in the seaside suburb of Adelaide on Saturday (tomorrow). She credits her outstanding longevity to her active lifestyle, which still includes twice weekly gym sessions at the facility and regular walks.

Just because people’s bodies age, it does not mean that they can not work out. There are exercises for seniors that not only improve strength, but balance as well, and that is of crucial importance as people age.

Noel Underwood is 95 and each week he attends rehearsals with the Hinterland Concert Band at the Mudgeeraba Music Centre in the town on Queensland’s Gold Coast. “I’m the oldest gentleman in the band. I pretty much seem to be the oldest man wherever I go at the moment,” said Noel, a resident at Carinity Cedarbrook aged care home at Mudgeeraba.

The latest snapshot states residential aged care providers spent an average of 83.5% of the total food and ingredients costs on fresh food and ingredients, which is a 3.5% increase on the October to December quarter (80 per cent).

Dementia Australia research shows 81% of people with a loved one living with dementia felt that people in shops, cafés and restaurants treated people living with dementia differently.

Moving a parent into residential aged care is never easy. But for one daughter, the challenge went beyond the emotional toll.

Lead project nurse at Calvary Ryde Wei Hu and occupational therapist Linda Maher (front) listen as retired priest and project participant Fr Don Willoughby explains his goals and aspirations. There is a common misconception that there is little that can be done to support residential aged care residents living with dementia or a mild cognitive impairment to maintain their independence.

Barbara Hale, who has osteoarthritis in her spine, is living proof that it is possible to manage the degenerative joint disease by working out in the gym. Aged care provider Uniting NSW.ACT wants World Arthritis Day, the global initiative held annually on 12 October, to highlight the importance of exercise in managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.

The ASX-listed residential aged provider has provided a beautiful story on a post on LinkedIn. At Estia Health Encounter Bay, 87km south of Adelaide, a marriage has taken place.

Guide Park Playspace in the seaside town of Wonthaggi, 132km southeast of Melbourne, which is linked to Rose Lodge Aged Care Home, won the National Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces at a ceremony in Adelaide, SA, earlier this month.

New research has shown that just a small change to your diet could make a big impact on your later life.

Colin Apelt, awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004, is one of the volunteers at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Brisbane.

Every second Monday, a small group of residents from Anglicare's Porter Lodge residential aged care home, which is on the same site as Minto Gardens retirement village, in the suburb, 50km southwest of Sydney's CBD, get ready to go out.

With 80% of aged care residents now living with some form of dementia or cognitive impairment, the pressure is on providers to deliver both a ‘home’ and a safe environment for residents and staff.

Residential aged care providers do a lot more for their residents than is often perceived.

Latrobe Regional Health’s Lactation Consultant, Leanne Horn, and Acting Nurse Unit Manager (Timbarra Unit), Courtney Whittaker, accepts a cheque on behalf of Respect, presented by Regional Area Manager, Rebecca Dew.

#GladtoCare Awareness Week, which is from Monday, 20 May to Friday, 24 May 2024, aims to recognise and applaud the invaluable efforts of those working in the aged care industry.

Uniting Crookwell volunteers Peter and Sylvia Cullen, Annette Cummins, Cate and Graham Stanton, Therese Harris, and Noel Bridge

The food served to residents in residential aged care should be one of the essential must-ask and must-see demands when deciding if a loved one should enter a particular home.

Physical activity is known to ease knee pain and joint stiffness yet only one in 10 people regularly exercise.

In great news for deaf older Australians, the National Sign Language Program is being expanded by the Department of Health and Aged Care from 1 July.

An international research team led by Queen Mary University of London has developed a new method for predicting dementia with over 80% accuracy and up to nine years before diagnosis.

Intergenerational connections are known to be beneficial for everyone involved.

Mobility does become an increasing issue as people age, but no matter how difficult it is to get outside, if a person wants a good night's sleep they need to.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care's Residents’ Experience Survey Report 2022 and 2023 is a testament to the country’s 846 operators, their boards and their workforce.

Sharron Tancred uses art, design principles and neuroscientific insights to create aged care spaces that improve the wellbeing of residents living with dementia by stimulating their sense of “beauty and wonder” and reducing stress and confusion.

Leti Asi has been working at the Not For Profit organisation Carinity's Clifford House residential aged care home in Wooloowin, Brisbane, for 38 years.

There's an exciting partnership that hopefully should spread where school children meet older people living with dementia.

The staff at residential aged care homes help organise some great events.

Sam Bridgewater (pictured right), the founder of The Pure Food Co, said Malnutrition Week, 16-20 September, is an appropriate time to write about the importance of fortifying textured modified foods right in aged care kitchens, particularly with so many residents living with dysphagia.

The average age of admission to residential aged care was 83 years for men and 85 years for women in 2012-22, according to the Australian Government's Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Volunteers are an essential part of the aged care system.

With the population getting older, there might be more people attending these events than a football match.

If a loved one is in residential aged care, why not see if their home offers chair yoga?

The latest initiative from NSW Not For Profit provider Scalabrini, which prides itself in putting the residents’ needs first, is seeing its residents, volunteers, and even families of those who have passed, making a positive impact on the lives of people in need.

The For-purpose aged and disability services organisation is partnering with Mannix College, a Catholic residential college affiliated with Monash University, to create a community service program, Mannix Young Hearts.

As we age, it’s only natural that we slow down a bit. Have those everyday tasks that you use to find easy, starting to wear you done? Have you heard of Home Care Services for Seniors? Maybe your friends are even receiving it already, but you don’t know how to access government subsidized help or where to start? Home Care Services are all about helping senior Australians stay in their own homes, by providing them a variety of services that make sure they can keep their independence and enjoy a good quality of life, all while getting the support they need.

Why this photo could be the most important in your life

The published study has linked frailty to an increased risk of developing dementia – but also pointed to the potential for prevention strategies.

Aged care provider Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) has established a special

You may not be running a marathon as you get older but recognising the profound benefits exercise can bring to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is essential for healthy ageing.

Chefs at Mission Australia’s Charles Chambers Court and Annie Green Court in Sydney’s inner city and Benjamin Short Grove in Orange, 254km west of Sydney’s CXBD, are participating in the trainer mentor program run by the Foundation.

Winnifred Stehbens moved into Lutheran Services’ Cooinda Aged Care in Gympie, 171km north of Brisbane, two years ago and has become a treasured resident.

Neurologists have long said a healthy lifestyle is key to brain health, and diet is an important part.

When a loved one is at home alone, feeling isolated, and at risk of falls, residential aged care can provide a better, safer, and more fulfilling life. Loneliness is increasingly affecting many Australians, with one in three people experiencing some form of social isolation.

A new short film will shine a spotlight on the experiences, resilience and hopes of older Western Australians while offering a powerful reminder of the impact of ageism.

Joyce Larkens knows Carinity Brownesholme Retirement Village and Aged Care Home in Highfields, Toowoomba, inside and out. Having moved to the Highfields community 25 years ago, Joyce has never had the desire to leave.

When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, many families find themselves uncertain about where to turn for help. With more than 433,000 Australians living with dementia in 2025, a number expected to nearly double by 2054, it's vital for those affected to have easy access to early support and care.