MerriNews, Vol 17, Dec 2017

MerriNews Volume 17. December 2017

Inside this issue:

1.

TIPS TO BEAT THE HEAT

2.

GETTING SCHOOLREADY

3.

WE’RE GOING PLASTIC FREE!

4.

FOOD SAVY FOR SUPPORTED HOUSING

Inside this issue: 2 Welcome 3 Tips to beat the heat 3 Be Merri 4 Getting your child school-ready 5 Carer support program reaches milestone 6 Why you might be finding it hard to quit 7 Happy feet 8 Food savy

Merri Health @MerriHealth Merri Health

© All applicable copyrights reserved for Merri Health. No part of this publication may be replicated in any manner or medium, without the permission of Merri Health, except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

2. | MerriNews December 2017

Welcome!

As the end of the year approaches, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months at Merri Health.

We have continued to grow and develop services for our community – with a number of new services launching across the region. In particular, there have been a number of new mental health programs supporting the GLBTIQ community, such as Q Health. This program has been especially timely given the new same-sex marriage law.

Following the fire at our Harding Street site in July, our corporate office has been temporarily operating from our Preston site. Progress is well underway in securing a new corporate office and we anticipate moving back to Coburg in February 2018. This will also provide the opportunity to accommodate some of the growth of services at our Vic Place, Coburg site.

On 28 August, we officially began our role as an Early Childhood Partner for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in the Ovens Murray area of regional Victoria. Merri Health will provide support to children with a developmental delay or disability and their families, to support a child’s development.

To round these activities up, the Board of Directors of Merri Health has recently endorsed the new Strategic Directions 2018-2020 for the organisation. This will guide our continuing growth and expansion in coming years and I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress against these plans.

We have also continued to strengthen our aged care services, in particular our Home Care Packages to support people to remain at home for longer. We’ve also realigned a number of our allied health programs which will strengthen our aged care, prevention and chronic illness care services to support our community to remain well and independent.

On behalf of the entire team at Merri Health, we wish all of the communities we serve best wishes for the coming festive season and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018.

In conjunction with National Carers Week in October, CarerLinks North celebrated their 20 year anniversary; an important milestone for those in the community, whose caring role we support.

Nigel Fidgeon Chief Executive Officer – Merri Health

Tips to beat the heat Extreme heat or heatwave can be a serious risk to our health and wellbeing. Avoiding the heat is important at any age.

Look out for yourself and keep in touch with others Keep cool Keep windows, blinds and curtains losed to reduce excess heat during the day. Splash yourself with cold water several times a day,

especially your face and the back of your neck. Make use of fans or air-conditioners at home. Spend as much time as possible in cool or air-conditioned buildings such as a shopping centre or library. z

Rest

zz

Make sure you get enough sleep and rest if you feel tired.

Stay out of the sun Stay indoors or in the shade during the hottest part of the day, 11am 3pm. Keep exercise or gardening to the early morning or late evening.

If you must be outdoors, stay in the shade and wear a hat and/or take an umbrella with you. Wear loose, lightweight clothing made from natural fibres, like cotton or linen.

Look after your pets Ensure there is water inside and out and plenty of shade in the backyard. On very hot days consider allowing your pet to stay inside.

Water

Drink plenty of water Drink water or fruit juice regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty (if your doctor normally limits your fluids, check how much to drink during hot weather). Take a water bottle with you when you go out.

Be Merri Our first health and wellbeing festival went off with a bang!

Wellbeing of residents was on the radar this holiday season, as Moreland celebrated its first health and wellbeing festival.

An initiative of Merri Health, Be Merri took place from 4 to 8 December, with key health, wellbeing and social activities taking place across Coburg, Fawkner and Brunswick.

“Be Merri was an opportunity to connect with locals through fun activities, while talking to them about their needs and

If you feel unwell in the heat contact your GP or phone NURSE-ON-CALL 1300 60 60 24 For life-threatening emergencies 000

what local services they could access,” said Merri Health chief executive Nigel Fidgeon.

“It was the first time we’ve done something like this and it was incredibly successful. It was great to see so many people get involved and stop by for a chat”.

Free activities included health checks, mindfulness sessions, community gardening, photo booth, face painting, children’s activities and screen printing, and Fawkner’s low cost community grocer.

Merri will continue to explore different options for engaging with locals, with a few businesses already making contact to discuss ideas for collaboration. If you have an idea or would like to be involved in 2018, get in touch at communications@ merrihealth.org.au

MerriNews December 2017 | 3.

Getting your child school-ready Our Ready, Set, Prep program has put together seven tips to help prepare your child for their first year of school.

1. Improve your child’s independence. >>

>>

>> >>

Encourage them to pack and carry their own school bag, and dress and undress themselves in their school uniform.

Teach them to recognise their belongings i.e. school bag, school hat, water bottle and lunch box.

Teach them to recognise their name.

Teach them to ask the teacher for help.

2. Having a daily routine. >>

>> >>

Have a early bed time. Children 3 to 5 years-old need between 11-13 hours sleep and children 6 to 9 years- old need between 10-11 hours sleep.

Have a consistent waking time – leave plenty of time to get ready for school.

Having a healthy breakfast. This is a must for energy and concentration.

3. Packing a healthy lunch. >> >> >> >>

Provide a healthy lunch.

Provide healthy snacks like vegetables and fruit.

Make sure your child can easily open wrapped items and their lunch box container.

Provide a water bottle every day and encourage your child to drink plenty of water daily.

4. Help your child get to know the school. >>

>>

Attend school orientation sessions, fetes or open days so your child can get to know the school and teachers. This will help reduce stress.

Read stories about going to school.

Ready, Set Prep helps children and their families prepare for their first year of primary school.

03 9357 2444 ReadySetPrep@merrihealth.org.au

4. | MerriNews December 2017

>>

Talk about school rules i.e. discuss the school bell and putting their hand up to ask and answer a question.

5. Arrange time for your child to play with other children who will be starting at the same school.

Organise a play day with children going to the same school. Seeing familiar faces will help your child feel confident and more relaxed on their first day and during the first weeks of school.

6. Consider reducing after school activities until your child has settled into school.

Starting school is a big change both emotionally and physically, and you may find that your child is tired and does not have the energy to do other activities after school. Observe how your child is feeling and how to best support your child’s transition to school.

7. Help manage separation distress. >>

>> >>

>>

Talk to your child’s teacher. They can help to put some ideas in place to support your child to separate from you.

Have a goodbye routine i.e. sharing a ‘high five’ or a special goodbye hug.

Always say goodbye and reassure your child of when you will collect them as this helps build their trust and sense of security.

Starting school can be stressful for children. Ask your child how they feel about starting school, listen to their worries and reassure your child that school will be a safe, fun and caring place.

Upcoming events for carers CarerLinks North’s peer support program has upcoming opportunities for carers to get involved in activities that provide a platform for sharing, learning and mentoring; social and emotional support; and strategies for managing the day-to-day challenges of their caring role.

Our peer support facilitators link carers with existing groups or help carers to establish a new group based on their interests.

Art Therapy for Carers

Carer support program reaches milestone CarerLinks North celebrated 20 years of service with carers past and present.

This year’s National Carers Week coincided with CarerLinks North’s 20 year anniversary.

The day was attended by 200 carers past and present, who came together to commemorate 20 years of the service with a lovely lunch at the Abbotsford Convent.

Throughout the day, carers had the opportunity to get involved in a number of activities including a ‘guess the sugar’ game, where they guessed the amount of sugar in popular food products.

The Carers’ Chorus, which is a support program that was formed by one of the carers, provided the entertainment, performing a set that had everyone cheering!

Staff were available to answer questions and provide information to carers about the services that are available.

Other events included the Koori Carers Lunch and Young Carers Festival which were both well attended and helped to recognise and acknowledge the role that all carers play in their community.

Thank you to everyone that attended and supported CarerLinks North in this incredible milestone!

Are you a carer?

Creative exploration in a safe, supportive environment.

When: Dates to be confirmed Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm Location: Merri Health Exchange House.

21 Victoria Street, Coburg Peer Support Singing Group Take some time out from your caring role and join the Carers’ Chorus.

When: Fortnightly on Wednesday Commencing from 7 February, 2018 Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm Venue: Newlands Community House.

20 Murray Road Coburg North Meet & Greet Take some time out for you! Start a new hobby or discussion group, or join an existing one and connect with other carers. Share ideas and information about your caring role and more.

When: 18 January, 2018 Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm Venue: The Groove Train. Northland Shopping Centre

CarerLinks North offers carers a range of services to help them in their caring role.

We help carers of all types and ages.

03 9495 2500 CarerLinksNorth@merrihealth.org.au

Are you interested in joining a group?

03 9495 2500 CarerLinksNorth@merrihealth.org.au

MerriNews December 2017 | 5.

Putting a stop to violence

Merri Health is incredibly proud to have stood with our partners and local community, making our voices heard as we said no to violence against women.

On Friday, 24 November we took the oath to never remain silent as part of White Ribbon Day, as our team marched with Member for Wills Peter Khalil MP, Moreland City Council, Victoria Police, and Northern Community Legal Centre at Victoria Street, Coburg.

White Ribbon Day is the annual maleled campaign for the prevention of violence against women. We came together to raise awareness and engage with the community, urging them to stand together with us in our commitment to this cause.

We also participated in the Clothesline Project, which is a yearly activity to speak out against family violence in our communities. A t-shirt painting activity was held at Vic Place and the Cobourg Mall in conjunction with the Family Violence Network. T-shirts were hung at our Vic Place and Preston sites.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our activities during the week and said no to violence.

Are you a victim of violence or know someone who has experienced violence? We have a dedicated team that can help you feel safe again.

Why you can’t quit for good Forty per-cent of smokers attempt to quit each year.

If you’re finding it hard to butt out your last cigarette, here’s why.

Feature by Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn.

1. Nicotine Most smokers keep failing to quit because they are addicted to nicotine – in fact, eight out of 10 smokers are.

Like other drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and heroin, nicotine acts on the reward pathway in the brain. Nicotine gets to the brain in 10-20 seconds and attaches to the receptors on the brain cells. This releases dopamine which can produce a feeling of pleasure. As you smoke more, the brain makes more nicotine receptors and you become more and more needy of nicotine.

Within several hours of quitting, smokers experience powerful urges to smoke and nicotine withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, restlessness and disturbed sleep.

2. Age Eighty per cent of adult smokers start smoking before 18 years of age. Adolescents are very sensitive to nicotine and quickly become addicted. Ten percent of teenage smokers start to become addicted within two days of inhaling from a cigarette for the first time.

1300 362 739

3. Genetics

VAPintake@merrihealth.org.au

We now know that some people are more prone to becoming addicted to nicotine than others. 50-60% of the chance

6. | MerriNews December 2017

of becoming addicted is determined by your genes. For example smokers who metabolise (break down) nicotine more quickly are generally more addicted. These people smoke more cigarettes and find it harder to quit.

4. Routine Over the years, smoking becomes part of your daily life. You learn to associate smoking with certain activities such as drinking a cup of coffee or the smell of smoke. Exposure to the trigger creates a strong urge to smoke. Quitting means changing your routines, avoiding certain places or trigger situations.

Colin Mendelsohn is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales and is a smoking treatment specialist.

Get in touch Thinking of quitting smoking? We’ll help you through it all.

03 9355 9900 info@merrihealth.org.au

We’re going plastic free!

The Community Grocer Fawkner is going plastic free in 2018.

The Community Grocer Fawkner is going plastic free next year.

We’re getting on board with Government changes and will no longer be providing single-use plastic carry bags to customers.

Customers are welcome to bring their own reusable bags. We will also be providing cardboard boxes for a small donation.

We’re also starting deliveries in Fawkner. If you’re is interested in receiving a mystery box, get in touch.

03 9355 9900 info@merrihealth.org.au

Small steps making big impact A new Little Feet and Limbs Clinic tackling walking problems from an early age.

The Little Feet and Limbs Clinic continues to go strong, having launched earlier this year.

A service of Merri Health, the clinic provides help for young children that are having foot or leg problems affecting the way they walk, with support from a physiotherapist and podiatrist.

Since launching earlier this year, the clinic has helped more than 40 children under the age of eight, who have been experiencing different problems impacting on their development.

Team leader of prevention and chronic illness care, prevention & complex care, Jason Dunn said that these problems are better treated while a child is young, to prevent further complications later in life.

“If some of these conditions are left untreated, then a child may compensate with other joints therefore creating subsequent symptoms later in life.

Some conditions may indicate neurological conditions which should be picked up as early as possible,” he said.

Taking into consideration the clients’ needs, the clinic provides joint assessments with a physiotherapist and podiatrist where possible, allowing ideas to be shared and discussed, while avoiding duplicate visits and costs.

Throughout the past six months, the clinic has achieved a 97 per cent attendance rate, hinting towards that success of the new approach.

The clinic has been able to strengthen relationships with local maternal and child health nurses, with many referrals coming directly from them.

The Little Feet and Limbs Clinic will continue to expand in 2018, to continue to cater the high demand.

Little Feet and Limbs clinic is one of our services targeted at helping children grow and reach their full potential. The Little Feet and Limbs Clinic has: >>

Achieved a 97% attendance rate

>>

Successfully assessed and provided treatment plans for 44 children.

>>

Found that ‘in-toeing gait’ was the most common problem in children.

Get in touch Referrals are now being accepted for 2018.

03 9338 9933 info@merrihealth.org.au MerriNews December 2017 | 7.

Food savy Increasing nutrition of people living in supported residental homes.

Eight local Supported Residential Services (SRS) benefited from a ‘Food SAVVI’ program, developed to increase their knowledge around nutritional quality of food.

The program, which was an initiative of SAAVI, also known as The Supporting Accommodation for Vulnerable Victorians Initiative, covered cooking methods; how to use more fruit and vegetables; and food safety and handling procedures to support better health and wellbeing for their residents.

With the aim of increasing compliance to the ‘Food SAVVI’ nutrition policy and capacity to provide healthy meals, the team delivered two food safety and handling training sessions, four nutrition training sessions for SRS staff and one cooking demonstration for food service staff and proprietors.

Evaluation of the project is currently underway, however, initial feedback found that changes have already occurred at all facilities

as a result of the education and training.

Reported changes include: >> >> >> >> >> >>

Improved food safety and handling procedures Changes to the menu to include healthier options Improved cooking methods Increased vegetable use Increased fruit offerings and consumption by residents Decreased consumption of added sugar and sugary drinks among some residents >> Increase water consumption among some residents The proprietors and staff of each SRS report that all aspects of the project have been beneficial and are enthusiastic for ongoing nutrition education and training.

Brunswick

Brunswick West PAG

Fawkner

Thornbury

Chifley Drive, Preston

11 Glenlyon Road Brunswick VIC 3056

382–386 Moreland Road Brunswick West VIC 3055

79 Jukes Road Fawkner VIC 3060

298 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3073

Level 1 & 2, 110 Chifley Drive, Preston VIC 3072

t: 03 9387 6711

t: 03 9386 3575

t: 03 9357 2444

t: 03 9484 5314

t: 03 9495 2500

Coburg

Glenroy

Victoria Street, Coburg

Pascoe Vale

Wangaratta

93 Bell Street Coburg VIC 3058

5D Cromwell Street Glenroy VIC 3046

21 Victoria Street Coburg VIC 3058

Shop 9E Anderson Street Pascoe Vale VIC 3044

Level 3, 62-68 Ovens St, Wangaratta, VIC 3677

t: 03 9350 4000

t: 03 9304 9200

t: 03 9355 9900

t: 03 9350 4600

t: 1300 362 739

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is provided by Merri Health (Merri Community Health Services Ltd.) and is for general information purposes only.

While information is current at the time of publication, subsequent changes to events may occur. Merri Health ventures to provide current and accurate information and we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or availability, with respect to this publication. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore at your own risk. In no event will Merri Health and its employees be responsible or liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or significant loss or damage, or any type loss or damage whatsoever, suffered by any person as the result of reliance on information contained in this publication.