The Better Ageing Podcast

Each year, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in Australia. And just like in our last episode where we looked at dementia, this number is increasing year on year as we live longer and longer lives. 

In this episode we take a look at this common neurological disease, first talking about what exactly Parkinson's Disease is and what effects Parkinson's Disease can have on someone (importantly the disease effects everyone differently). 

In particular we discuss the latest research that supports physiotherapy interventions and exercise for Parkinson's Disease, and the positive impact it has on the health outcomes of individuals living with with the disease. Resistance and balance training are cited as the best exercise to combat Parkinson's, along with dancing! This is due to the fact that dancing is good for both balance and strength, and also features rhythm which helps with initiating movement. 

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:07 - Welcome 
1:35 - Introduction to the topic 
4:50 - It should be diagnosed by a doctor and a neurologist 
5:47 - Exercise should go hand in hand with medication
7:33 - What does the research say? 
9:05 - Dancing works!
12:29 - What else does the literature say? 
17:08  - Closing thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

As the health of our society continues to improve and our lives grow longer and longer, incidences of dementia increase as we reach older and older ages. Of course, it's important to remember though that dementia is not a normal part of ageing, so what, if any, are some of the ways to reduce the risk of dementia? 

In the episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing research surrounding exercise and dementia. In particular we look at the role exercise might play in reducing the risk of dementia or delaying its onset, and how it can help during the care of someone with dementia. We discuss how exercise has been linked to a slower loss in brain tissue as we age, and how supervised exercise can improve physical function for people with cognitive decline.

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:07 - Welcome 
2:20 - Introduction to the topic 
4:02 - One problem about living longer 
4:39 - What role does dementia play in reducing risk of dementia
5:50 - Exercise for people with dementia 
9:05 - Can exercise reduce the likelihood of dementia? 
10:12 - Are you getting enough exercise? 
10:57  - Closing thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

CT scans, MRIs, X-rays ... we've all had at least one at some point! But are they always necessary in proper diagnosis and treatment? 

In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing scans and the role they play in the treatment of common conditions like joint pain and osteoarthritis. In particular we look at recent guidelines that outline how scans should be used by health professionals, how sometimes scans can be misleading, when they should be used, and why avoiding unnecessary scans is a good idea. Importantly, we conclude that health professionals should always treat the person in front of them and their symptoms/story and not the scan or image.

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:07 - Welcome 
0:56 - Introduction to scans
1:30 - When are scans needed? 
3:11 - Clinical practice guidelines 
5:01 - Is unnecessary testing bad? 
7:00 - Lower back pain statistics 
11:07 - Treat the person not the image 
12:21 - Scans do not have a role in diagnosis of osteoarthritis 
13:40  - Closing thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Did you know that a third of people over the age of 65 living at home have a fall each year? Given that falls in older age can often lead to a rapid decline in independence it's a startling statistic! However, reducing the risk of falling is something everyone can do right now, and you can even do it from home.

In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing falls and balance. In particular we look at recent research that outlines the positive impact exercise can have in reducing one's risk of falling. In our discussion we look at the types of exercise that have the biggest positive impact, how often you should be exercising, and what someone can start focusing on right now to improve their balance and strength.

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:07 - Welcome 
1:02 - Introduction to driving into old age 
2:00 - What do we know about falls? 
3:19 - Exercise can help reduce risk of falls 
4:01 - Cochrane review 
5:09 - What exercises did the research find were most beneficial? 
6:48 - How often do you need to exercise? 
8:42 - What should someone focus on now? 
9:39  - Closing thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Driving allows people to stay independent and socially connected. Staying safe is important for all drivers, but as we age the challenges of staying safe might be getting too much for us.

In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing driving and old age.  In particular we debunk some myths around older drivers (hint: older drivers aren't unsafe!) and discuss some of the lesser known physical changes that can affect driving, how to prepare for a life beyond driving and how to have a discussion with a parent or loved one when it might be time to hang up the driving gloves.

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:07 - Welcome 
1:04 - Introduction to driving into old age 
1:26 - Myth 1: older drivers aren't safe 
2:44 - Myth 2: older drivers have to be tested regularly 
4:40 - Physical changes that might affect driving 
5:20 - Older people and car crashes 
6:36 - Physical changes that reduce safety 
10:04 - How can medication affect driving 
12:01 - Planning for a life without driving 
13:02 - Dementia and driving 
13:35 - Having a conversation with a parent about their driving 
16:30 - Staying fit for driving 
17:06 - Final thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing the important role weight bearing exercise plays in maintaining and improving bone health. 

In particular, Jason highlights recent research that demonstrates the types of exercises that benefit bone density and how often someone should be exercising. Jane and Jason summarise the research and break down how it applies to you at home and how you can incorporate it into your own lifestyle. 

As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too.

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:7 - Welcome 
1:08 - Introduction to bone health 
3:04 - Jason explains the recent research 
4:46 - Repetitive exercise has diminishing returns for bone density 
5:33 - Finding your benchmark 
6:46  - High impact exercises 
9:01 - Do you need a physio, or can they be done at home? 
11:05 - How much should I be exercising? 
12:19 - How often should I be incorporating weight bearing exercise? 
13:31 - Risks of low bone density 
13:56 - Final thoughts 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Cancer can be a tough topic to talk about, as it has affected so many of us and our loved ones. 

However in this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we are aiming to bring a bit of hope to the topic, as we discuss living with cancer.

In particular we talk about dealing with the shock of the initial diagnosis, the importance of maintaining your exercise regime and the evidence that supports the role exercise can be play in cancer treatment, building a cancer team around you (and who is on the team) and the benefits of maintaining healthy diet and sleep habits.
 
If you or someone you know is living from cancer currently, we hope this episode helps you take control of the aspects of your life that you can, and puts you in a place of hope. 

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:08 - Welcome 
1:12 - Introduction to living with cancer
4:18 - The cancer team 
6:26 - Physiotherapy plays an important role 
7:58 - Exercise evidence 
11:09  - How can a physio help? 
13:27 - Take home message 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Medication has many positive benefits when prescribed correctly, helping many of us live healthier, happier lives for longer. However sometimes new or existing medication we are taking can have unintended interactions.

That's why, as we discuss on this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast, it is extremely important to have any medications you are taking regularly reviewed.

In this episode we talk about the signs to look out for that your medication might be having a negative effect on you (change of mood, appetite, loss of balance, etc), what to talk to your GP about, and Home Medicine Reviews conducted by accredited pharmacists. Home Medicine Reviews are referred by a GP and are another way to help avoid any unwanted interactions from medications (both prescribed medications and any other over the counter medications someone might be taking) whilst also educating the individual about the medication they are taking.
 
As always, we hope this episode helps, and if you're feeling a little off after starting a new medication, don't forget to talk to your GP to make sure your medication is working for you!

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:26 - Welcome 
2:03 - Real life example of medications having unintended consequences 
4:23 - Signs to look out for 
5:41 - What is a 'Home Medicine Review'? 
6:40 - Who would need a home review? 
9:20 - Asking questions of your doctor 
11:09 - Benefits of a pharmacist home visit 
11:47 - Take home message 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Carers play an important role in our society,  providing selfless care each and every day without seeking anything in return. It can be an extremely rewarding role but it can also be very isolating and physically and emotionally demanding. 

In this episode we talk define what a carer is, how you become one and how you can be the best carer you can be. As we discuss, this often starts with looking after your own mental and physical wellbeing before helping others (you can't pour from an empty cup!). 
 
Recognising you are a carer, maintaining your own identity, and connecting with other carers are all important steps to thriving in the role of carer. 

So, if you are caring for someone you love, you are not alone and we hope this episode helps provide you with some strategies to help you be the best carer you can be.

If you know of someone providing selfless care each and every day, don't forget to check in with them (and maybe even send them this episode!). 

Get more information at Carers Victoria: https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/ 

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:18 - Welcome 
1:05 - How to be the best carer you can be 
1:37 - What is a carer? 
3:58 - Carer support 
5:36 - Physical aspect of caring 
7:23 - How to lift safely 
9:35 - Having the right aids in the house 
10:44 - Recognising that you are a carer 
12:50 - Managing the emotional strain of being a carer 
14:50 - Take home message

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant. 

Happy 21st birthday to us! Yes that's right it's our 21st episode, and to celebrate we're bringing you some tips to help you stay active this winter.

In this episode we talk about the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle (no matter the time of year), before providing you with some exercise ideas that you can put in place during the colder, wetter, darker months. As you'd expect, at home exercises or group classes with your physiotherapist are a great option, however other creative ideas discussed include walking around your local shopping centre (just be careful not to hurt your hip pocket too much!).

And don't forget, if you are exercising outdoors on a cooler day, don't forget to hydrate! Whilst you might not feel like you sweat as much,  it's still just as important to keep your fluid levels up before, during and after you exercise.

As always we hope this episode helps you or someone you care for, and provides you with the motivation to get out amongst it this winter!

Show notes/ topics covered:

0:20 - Welcome 
1:02 - Having an active winter
1:40 - Why should we stay active? 
3:27 - Getting Vitamin D in the winter 
5:23 - Exercising indoors 
7:33 - What about swimming or hydrotherapy? 
8:58 - Structure and routine is important
9:22 - Layering and hydration 
10:06 - Staying healthy - reminder to get your flu and coronavirus vaccinations 

About the experts: 

Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.