Seniors Feature July 2018

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WHAT A WAY TO LIVE‌ Just seven months in Shepparton for Lizanne and Michael Goodwin and their dog Dundee, and they love the lifestyle.

Photo: Nicholise Garner.

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July 2018

Our ageing population ACCORDING to the latest statistics from the Census Data, Greater Shepparton’s ageing population is growing significantly.

Age 55-59 years 60-64 years 65-69 years 70-74 years 75-79 years 80-84 years 85 years and over

Greater Shepparton (C) 4,111 3,802 3,512 2,658 2,050 1,444 1,484

% 6.4 6.0 5.5 4.2 3.2 2.3 2.3

Victoria 357,616 319,840 291,397 218,203 165,115 119,895 127,993

% 6.0 5.4 4.9 3.7 2.8 2.0 2.2

Australia 1,454,332 1,299,397 1,188,999 887,716 652,657 460,549 486,842

% 6.2 5.6 5.1 3.8 2.8 2.0 2.1

EXERCISE TO REDUCE RISK… A new study has indicated that the risk of heart failure can be reduced in middle-aged people if they take up an exercise regime. Photo: Supplied.

Exercise may reverse heart damage AUSTRALIAN researchers say a new study has shown middle-aged people with sedentary lifestyles may reduce or reverse the risk of heart failure associated with years of sitting by participating in two years of regular aerobic exercise.

First author and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute researcher, Dr Erin Howden said participants who stuck to the aerobic exercise regimen had significant improvements in how their body utilised oxygen and had decreased cardiac stiffness after two years, both markers of a healthier heart.

Dr Howden, part of the Baker Institute’s Sports Cardiology and Metabolic and Vascular Physiology Labs said the result was a reversal of decades of a sedentary lifestyle on the heart for most of the American based study participants.

“Low fitness in middle-age, in people right around the world, is a strong predictor of future risk of heart failure and is associated with increased cardiac stiffness, a potential precursor to heart failure. However, waiting until heart failure develops or older age cements the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and by then it may be too late to reverse any damage.

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“This study demonstrates that prolonged (two years) exercise training, initiated in middle-age, can forestall the deleterious effects of sedentary ageing by reducing cardiac stiffness and increasing fitness.”

The study analysed the hearts of 53 middle-aged adults who were healthy but sedentary at the start of the study, meaning they tended to sit most of the time. Study participants received either two years of training, including high and moderate intensity aerobic exercise four or more days a week (exercise group), or they were assigned to a control group, which engaged in yoga, balance training and weight training three times a week for two years.

“Sedentary behaviours, such as sitting for long periods of time, increase the likelihood of the heart muscle shrinking and stiffening in late-middle age and increases the risk of developing heart failure,” Dr Howden said.

“We’ve also found that the ‘sweet spot’ in life to get off the couch and start regular exercise is in late-middle age, when the heart still has plasticity and this applies to people right around the world including Australia.”

July 2018

Find your

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perfect fit SURELY of a certain age, one deserves to have a recliner that’s simply your own. Your own style, perfectly suited to your own body. Currently, Furniture Edition is offering seniors up to 10 percent discount on recliners and lift chairs.

Proprietor, Ray Behrends said, “We have a huge range of recliners and lift chairs available to suit a variety of tastes and styles and are all excellent quality, major brands.

“We’ve got plenty of recliners and lift chairs to choose from and I welcome you to come in and try a seat for yourself to find your perfect fit.”

Take advantage of this opportunity and mention The Adviser for your 10 percent discount.

Open seven days a week with plenty of free parking, visit Furniture Edition at 7999 Melbourne Road, Shepparton (opposite Shepparton Toyota.)

PULL UP A CHAIR… From left, Ross Paterson, Furniture Edition proprietor, Ray Behrends, Ray Hill and Jenni Hill enjoying the comfort of the range of recliners and lift chairs available in-store. Photo: Nicholise Garner.

Empowering our elderly to take charge of the conversation ACCORDING to nation-wide research conducted by leading Victorian consumer health advocate, the Health Issues Centre (HIC) a wide-scale reluctance to talk about or plan for getting older, losing capacity or how we wish to spend our final days stems from both cultural and behavioural obstacles.

HIC CEO, Danny Vadasz said, “We’re just not comfortable talking about death and decline.

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“We’re ok talking about retirement and our funeral plans and the things we have put in place for once we have gone, but we don’t want to address the stuff in-between.

“This is in part due to being placed in a wicked dilemma we simply don’t know how to solve; we don’t want to be a burden to families but are horrified at the prospect of going into residential aged care and losing our independence.

“Often it’s easier putting our heads in the

sand and simply not thinking about it.”

Mr Vadasz says the tragic fall-out from this inability to communicate our deepest wishes is that way too many difficult conversations are happening in clinical settings when we are facing a health crisis or worse still, family members are left to make tough choices on our behalf, usually without knowing what we want.

“We need to step up and take charge and stop putting the burden on our families.

“We want to gently encourage people to think about their hopes and fears and then share these thoughts with families and friends.

“Most importantly, we want to empower the elderly to take charge of how they would like to navigate their declining years and not leave this to family and the medical profession to determine.”

For further information, visit https://bit. ly/2KzNqqE

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July 2018

Meeting local community needs AHS Tatura Pharmacy is now open seven days a week!

Pharmacist, Heath Robbins said, “In all of our services, we aim to look after the community and we know that extending our usual trading hours as well as opening on Sundays is something that will definitely be of benefit to many in the wider community.

“We also offer a 10 percent saving for seniors each Wednesday, so come in and ask us about some of the best products for fighting off colds and flu bugs. “There are some excellent products on the market and our team will help to find the right one for you.”

Visit AHS Tatura Pharmacy at 151 Hogan Street, Tatura. Now open 9am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1:30pm Saturdays and 10am to 1:30pm Sundays for your convenience.

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK… From left, AHS Tatura Pharmacy pharmacist, Heath Robbins with pharmacy assistants, Gaye Eaton, Jo Clarke and Sharna Hamilton. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

Helping people with dementia maintain everyday living DEM EN T I A is the biggest cause of disability in Australian’s over the age of 65.

It can also affect people of younger ages. A set of ‘reablement’ programs now available are focussed on helping people living with dementia to maintain their ability to perform everyday activities for as long as possible.

‘Supporting independence and function in people living with dementia’ is a handbook of reablement programs for service providers and is an evidence-informed resource containing

practical reablement programs to support function in people living with dementia.

The handbook contains eight reablement programs around the key areas of everyday living activities, mobility and physical function, and cognition and communication.

Directed at aged care providers, allied health and nursing professionals, managers and care workers, the handbook is supported by two additional resources, a consumer information booklet, and a technical guide.

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The technical guide contains a detailed synthesis of the published research evidence on reablement interventions for people living with dementia and is a resource particularly aimed at health professions delivering programs and researchers.

Professor Chris Poulos, who led the team producing these new resources, said, “We have developed the handbook and the accompanying resources for two key reasons.

The first is to empower people living with

dementia, along with their families and support persons, by providing them with the tools to make informed decisions about programs that could be of benefit.

“The second is to outline for practitioners and service providers how these evidenceinformed programs can be delivered, practically and sustainably.”

All three resources are available for free dow n load at ha m mondc a re.com. au / reablement

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VICTORIAN SENIORS

Transitioning into aged care?

A FINANCIAL plan offers peace of mind and security for individuals and for their families…it’s never too late to plan for your future.

As we age we are faced with questions over accommodation options and cost, whether or not the family home needs to be sold, what impacts the aged pension and how to maximise your income.

RI Advice business owner, Sandy Miller said, “My specialty is in helping people find the right answers to these questions to ease the financial and psychological burden and make the transition from independent living to aged care as smooth as possible.

“Our professional and qualified advice will show people how to structure their financial affairs to reduce the aged care fees and provide them with ongoing income opportunities.”

To g i v e y o u a m o r e i n - d e p t h understanding find RI Advice at 137 Maude Street, Shepparton or call them on 5831 2833 to discuss your needs.

PLAN FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE… RI Advice business owner, Sandy Miller will help you to secure your financial future. Photo: Supplied.

DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS… Victorian Seniors Card holders can also now obtain a Gold Senior/ Pensioner Opal Card that never expires, for use on public transport services across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands capped at $2.50 a day, no matter how much you travel. Photo: Supplied.

Seniors Cards and the new never expiring Opal Card OPERATING since 1991, the Seniors Card program acknowledges and celebrates the contribution seniors have made and continue to make to our communities and the state of Victoria. The program encourages older people to keep active and engaged in the community by providing incentives and making it more affordable to get out and about.

If you are aged over 60 and working less than 35 hours per week in paid employment or fully retired, and a permanent resident of Australia, residing in Victoria you can apply for a Seniors Card. Seniors working more than 35 hours per week can apply for the Seniors Business Discount Card.

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of discounts on goods and services from more than 4,000 Seniors Card businesses.

Look for the ‘Seniors Card Welcome Here’ logo or ask for Seniors Card discounts when you’re out and about.

Victorian Seniors Card holders can also now obtain a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card that never expires, for use on public transport services across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands capped at $2.50 a day, no matter how much you travel.

To be eligible, seniors must hold a valid Victorian Seniors Card and apply through the NSW Government Opal Card website.

For more information or to apply for an Opal Card, visit www.opal.com.au

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July 2018

Adjustable beds promote better circulation and pressure relief HARVEY Norman is offering a fantastic deal on Tempur Luna Supreme memory foam mattresses and adjustable bases. Choose from firm, medium or soft, queen, king, standard or long in size and get a remote controlled adjustable base to help you get the most out of your mattress.

Harvey Norman Bedding proprietor, Morgan Pearson said, “This mattress assists in reducing pressure in your shoulders, lower back and hips while still supporting you where you need it most.

“The Tempur’s luxurious material conforms to the shape of your body, supporting you where you need it most. It recovers from compressions quickly and easily, meaning you can move about freely. The mattress’ CoolTouch Technology will help dissipate heat and moisture to help

ADJUST YOUR BED TO SUIT… Harvey Norman Bedding proprietor, Morgan Pearson is making an offer you won’t want to refuse with the Tempur Luna Supreme Sensation Mattress. Photo: Nicholise Garner.

you feel more comfortable in bed.

“The Tempur Luna Supreme Sensation Mattress comes with a removable cover for washing and as a part of our current offer, you will also receive a mattress protector and

two Tempur pillows, along with free delivery and set up.”

Visit Harvey Norman Bedding at Riverside Plaza, Kialla to try out the Tempur Luna Supreme foam mattresses and adjustable bases for yourself.

Stop and check – is this for real?

BE AWARE…scammers are impersonating government departments and trusted businesses and they are targeting you.

If you received a call out of the blue from the tax office saying you had a tax debt that you had to pay immediately or be arrested, what would you think? If Telstra called you and said there were internet problems in your area and they needed remote access to your computer in order to help you otherwise they would disconnect your service, what would you do?

While it would be understandable if your initial reaction might be fear or panic, Australians are being urged to ‘Stop and check – is this for real?’

These are examples of threat-based impersonation scams, about which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch received almost 33,000 reports in 2017. About 85 percent of these reports indicated the scammer had been in contact by telephone.

Older Australians have been particularly vulnerable to these scams. People aged 65 and over submitted more than 5,800 of the Scamwatch reports and reported losing almost $1M last year.

For more information about scams, where to get help or to report a scam, visit www.scamwatch.gov.au/scamsweek2018

Tips to protect yourself: • Verify the identity of the contact through an independent source, such as a phone book or online search, then get in touch with them to ask if they contacted you. Don’t use the contact details provided by the caller or in the message sent to you.

• Never send money, give your banking or credit card details or other personal information to anyone you don’t know or trust, and never by email or over the phone.

• Know that a government agency or trusted business will never

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ask you to pay them with gift or store cards, iTunes cards, wire transfers or Bitcoin.

Don’t open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails – just delete them. These could infect your computer with malware.

Never give anyone remote access to your computer if they’ve contacted you out of the blue – whether through a phone call, pop up window or email – and even if they claim to be from a well-known company like Telstra.

If you have lost money or given your personal details to a scammer, there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.

If you’ve sent money or shared your banking or credit card details, contact your financial institution immediately. They may be able to stop or reverse a transaction, or close your account.

July 2018

Have a warm winter without the energy bill blues

ETHICAL, CARING AND LOCAL… From left, Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic’s Lindsay Symons BSc DipAud MSc (Aud) FAAA MAudA (CC), Elizabeth Webster BSpPath (Hons) MAud MAudA (CC), Wade Gregory BMus (Hons) MAudSt MAudA (CC) and Belinda Schmedje BAppSc DipAud MAudA (CC). Photo: Supplied.

The importance of local community involvement ETHICAL, caring and local are the key elements that underpin Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic’s approach to providing hearing services to the local community.

As an independent, locally owned clinic, involvement in the local community is important.

Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic practice manager, Dierdre Robertson said, “Sponsorship of the Goulburn Valley Bowls Division, the Australian National Piano Awards and STAG, is how we do this.

“Whether testing newborn babies at the hospital clinic or carrying out a hearing assessment at the private clinic, the audiologists at Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic works

to ensure you understand the testing being done, what it means and the options available to you.

“Hearing loss is often a gradual process. You may be missing out on conversations, especially when there is background noise, or need to ask others to speak up or repeat themselves.

“Hearing loss can be very isolating and keeping up with what’s being said can also be exhausting.” Her suggestion is don’t delay; have your hearing checked. Talk to your local audiologist about the results and find out what you can do about it, it can really make a difference.

WINTER is here, and you’re probably wondering how you’ll stay warm without blowing your energy budget. Having the heater on high three months a year is all very well, but having a house that stays warm by itself is even better.

Sounds impossible, right? But getting a Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard Assessment can set you on the path to a more comfortable home with lower energy use.

The Scorecard is a new Victorian Government program to review, rate and improve the energy efficiency of your home. It is delivered by government-accredited assessors, and will give your house a star rating (like the star rating on your fridge or air conditioner) as well as recommendations to improve that rating.

The assessment process is easy and takes one to two hours.

The assessor walks through your home, recording information using the online Scorecard tool. The assessor takes down details of your fixed appliances, like your air conditioner and hot water system, the size of your rooms, the way they’ve been built, types of windows and insulation and other elements that affect the energy use or comfort of a room, such as gaps under the external doors or unsealed chimneys.

Accredited assessor, Danielle King said, “One great thing about Scorecard is it gives Victorian households access to a government-accredited assessor they know they can trust, someone who can answer questions about why their energy bills are high. We can also help you decide which changes to make to your home first and help you prioritise.”

For more information on Scorecard, visit www. victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/scorecard, email help. scorecard@delwp.vic.gov.au or contact the Scorecard team on 136 186.

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July 2018

39,000 people go missing in Australia each year ON AV E R AGE , 39,0 0 0 people a re reported missing in Australia ever y year – equivalent to one person every 15 minutes. 16 percent of these people go missing unintentionally. The ‘unintentional missing’ comprise of those who have wandered, become lost or are otherwise unaware they are missing.

Standby Security Services are helping families to protect their loved ones with the use of the ‘Smart GPS SOS’ tracker.

Standby Security Services managing

director, Angelo Kakouros said, “The S m a r t t racker s end s G P S lo c at ion and contacts our 24 Hour Grade A1 Monitoring Centre. Features of the tracker include automatic fall detection, it’s waterproof and has a speakerphone and microphone in the pendant and works anywhere in Australia, not just at home.”

Contact Angelo at Standby Security Services on 1800 809 579 or visit www. s t a n d b y s e c u r i t y. c o m . a u f o r m o r e information.

HELPING PEOPLE YOUNG AND OLD… Standby Security Services offer families the latest technology to protect and reassure those vulnerable. Photo: Supplied.

A beautiful coincidence SHEPPARTON Villages marketing and fundraising manager, Jo Breen, shared a story of a beautiful coincidence with The Adviser.

Jo said, “Our residential facilities are filled with beautiful stories and wonderful memories gleaned from the colourful past of our residents. This particular story is a real heart-warmer.

“Recently, 90 year old Amelia Turcato, spent some time at Banksia Lodge on respite care. A beautiful lady of Italian heritage, Amelia speaks little English and was randomly seated at the lunch table with Banksia’s little pocket rocket, Chiara Picquola, 92.

“Chiara who speaks Italian started up a conversation with Amelia when they discovered that they had migrated to Australia on the same boat in 1953!

Both from Northern Italy, they travelled to the Port of Melbourne on the Oceana Neptunia, Chiara with her two young

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PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT… From left, Shepparton Villages residents 90 year old, Amelia Turcato with 92 year old, Chiara Picquola holding a photo of the Oceana Neputnia.

Photo: Supplied.

children on her way to join her husband, while Amelia who was on her own, spent most of the time in her cabin with sea sickness. The pair started talking nonstop

since discovering this amazing coincidence.

Chiara said the story was enough to ‘make you in to tears’ – and we agree Chiara!”