The Australian government provides a safety net of subsidies for elderly Australians unable to fully fund their own care. But will the extra 14,000 home care places in the budget meet demand?
It’s not just the elderly who feel alone.
from www.shutterstock.com
While the budget will come in for its share of criticism, looked at overall it is designed not to offend an electorate that has already turned off the government.
Over half of nursing home residents suffer from depression.
from shutterstock.com
Twenty years since the Aged Care Act was introduced, the situation for older Australians remains dire. They’re sicker and have more complex care needs, but little access to medical care.
The incidence of poverty among people over 65 is decreasing in part because of increased labour force participation.
Col Ford and Natasha de Vere/Flickr
The rising global prevalence of dementia, particularly in the nursing home population, means aggressive behaviours between residents will increasingly be an issue.
While assisted dying is contentious, access to palliative care should not be.
Rustle/Shutterstock
One would think governments would do all they could to ensure palliative care is available to all who need it. This is not the case in Australia today.
Living in a single-storey unit can lead to much higher air conditioning costs.
Aged-care units can be a lottery of comfortable versus uncomfortable temperatures, depending on the building’s construction and where you live within it. That needs to improve.
Australian governments of all persuasions have shared three common beliefs about the economic value of home ownership in later life.
shutterstock
The promotion of home ownership as a way of funding care in later life is part of a broader policy trend toward making people individually responsible for the opportunities they have.
Russell Broadbent said on Wednesday that the message being sent was that ‘little people don’t count’ and ‘my resignations were to make the point that they do’.
Premature death is still an issue if the patient is in a nursing home.
from www.shutterstock.com.au
We tend to consider the deaths of older people, and especially those in care, are due to natural causes. But new research shows how many die from injuries and violence.
Families who are around at mealtimes can check their relatives are swallowing food properly and alert nursing home staff if there’s a problem.
from www.shutterstock.com
Poor oral health in our nursing homes can lead to many complications, including choking to death. Here’s how family and staff can help advocate for better care.
Many people in aged care facilities have swallowing disorders and particular dietary needs.
from shutterstock.com
There’s a lot to consider in the problem of creating enjoyable foods for people with swallowing difficulties. Could 3D-printed food be part of the solution?
Flu vaccination uptake rates are low in adults, including among those who work in health, aged care and childcare.
from www.shutterstock.com
Most immunisation campaigns continue to primarily focus on infants and children, but almost 4 million Australian adults are not vaccinated against preventable diseases.
Music can be a stronger trigger for shared memories than photos as we age, even in people with dementia.
from www.shutterstock.com
For couples, families or friends who share a significant song, the effects of music can be powerful and persistent, lasting well into old age, even piercing through dementia.
Allowing nursing home residents to come and go as they wish may not be so dangerous after all.
from www.shutterstock.com
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne