The Truth About Ageing

Today we pick the brains of the beautiful Tamara from Adelaide Hills Counselling & Consultancy about hoarding and squalor.  Tamara is accredited Social Worker with the AASW and has worked in the aged care sector for 8 years. 

We talk about:

• the difference between 'clutter' and hoarding or squalor, including the mental illnesses that sit behind the behaviour
• the risks associated with hoarding and squalor
• various supports and strategies available for assisting individuals to work through their mental illness

For some families this can be an incredibly challenging and sometimes frustrating topic to try navigate with a loved one and Tamara talks us through how to do this in a sensitive and caring manner.

If you want to contact Tamara for any additional information or for assistance with finding your loved one a residential placement, please contact her via the details below:
Phone - 0414 250 665
Email - [email protected]
Website - www.adelaidehillscc.com

Whilst the podcast has maintained regular programming... I've had a little bambino! We welcomed our daughter Cecelia into the world on the 15th of March - known as Cece to her friends. She is an absolute delight, but wowee I don't think I've ever been so sleep-deprived! Thankfully I pre-recorded a number of episodes prior to having her, so episodes have stayed regular. 

Today is my first ep back behind the mic since having Cece and you might hear from the tone in my voice, I am EXCITED! In today's ep I talk about my aged care journey and how I got to doing the work I am now. I talk a little about my study, volunteering and roles in aged care to date. I love getting to know hosts on other podcasts, so I thought I'd share a little more about myself on today's ep.

I hope you're all having a beautiful week and can't wait to chat again next Wednesday!

Worried that you or a loved one are starting to forget medications or maybe get them mixed up? There are so many wonderful prompts and aids available to assist with taking medications on time. In today's quick tip episode we run through the cascading assistance that can be offered for medication administration.

1.      Taking medications from original containers

2.      Using pill boxes/dosettes

3.      Webster Packs packed by the Pharmacy

4.      Reminder clocks to prompt when medications are due

5.      Automatic pill dispensers

6.      Having family/staff attend to administer medications

 As discussed on the episode, you can find more information about the individual aids at www.tabtimer.com.au - they are fantastic to contact with any questions about what device might be most suitable for you or your loved one. 
 
 Feel free to send through any questions on our website at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast :)

Sometimes we start to become worried about loved ones living at home and become concerned they're not coping independently. In today's episode I unpack some of the common checks I complete for clients (and loved ones!) when visiting their home to give me an indication of how well they're doing.

As highlighted at the top of the podcast, please know that each of these checks are just a piece of the puzzle and don't definitively mean that they're not coping. It's also integral that we take time to assess these concerns and reflect on the best way to have this discussion with our loved one.

The top five areas to check are:

1. Groceries available and in date
2. Wet areas used
3. Clothing presentation
4. Medication consumption
5. Home tidiness/cleanliness

In E39 I unpack how to subtlety and respectfully assess these areas during a visit to their home and if there are concerns, how to best discuss with your loved one.

As always, you can contact us at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast or on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing - I hope you enjoy today's ep!

Blue Zones refers to the study of the five places in the world ­where people live the longest, and are healthiest: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. The concept of Blue Zones has been increasingly reported and filtered down into four key categories with nine denominators.

In E38 we talk with Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Tara McConkey, about how Blue Zones can apply to Seniors and what we can be doing to integrate some of these concepts into our day-to-day lives. 

MOVE

• Move naturally - moving your body intuitively throughout your day

RIGHT OUTLOOK

• Purpose - having a sense of meaning and purpose throughout your day
• Down shift - intentionally taking time to relax & unwind

EAT WISELY

• 80% rule - eating until you feel 80% full (*listen to episode for caution warning)
• Plant slant - increasing the amount of plants in our diet
• Wine at 5 - 1-2 glasses of wine/day (*listen to ep for context)

CONNECT

• Right tribe - being surrounded by people that fill your cup
• Loved ones first - prioritising time with our loved ones & multi-generational family homes
• Belong - finding a community that you feel connected to and valued in

For full descriptions and context on these categories, tune into E38. 
For more information, you can also head to www.bluezones.com.

As always, you can find us at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast :)

If you or your loved one are in hospital, how on earth do you work out how to get home? Hospitals are incredibly busy, so knowing what options are available & what to ask can help ensure a smooth discharge for yourself or a loved one.

1. Understand the situation:
a) Understand the diagnosis - do they know what the diagnosis is? Or is there something they suspect?
b) Potential discharge plans - try to get a feel as to whether you or your loved one will be in there for hours, days or weeks
c) Level of care required on discharge - trying to establish what additional assistance may be required when they return home e.g. shower assistance, welfare checks, medication support etc.

2. Create a plan - meeting or liaising with formal & informal supports to determine capacity to assist on discharge home and then communicating this to the hospital. 

3. Stay in regular contact with the hospital - to ascertain changes to discharge plans, to better understand diagnosis, to see if there are updates on level of care required on discharge and to communicate formal & informal capacity to assist.

4. Advocacy when required - advocating when you or your loved one do not feel safe returning home with the proposed supports

As always you can send any questions through our website at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au - you can also find us on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast :)

Ever been in hospital or had a loved one in hospital and been unclear about what options are available when discharging? Most people want to get home as soon as possible, however may require some additional support before safely & confidently returning home.

In E36 we discussed nine different options and pathways available on discharge from hospital. Please note, the names of these programs may vary across Australia however it does give an indication of the main pathways available.

1. Return Home - suitable for those back to their baseline or needing low levels of additional care that can be provided by family, friends or their Home Care Package 
2. Hospital at Home - short term assistance (approx. 2 weeks) at home whilst regaining confidence e.g. shower assistance, physiotherapy, medication management
3. Rehabilitation - intensive in-patient rehabilitation programs (minimum 4 weeks) delivered by a multi-disciplinary team with the goal of the individual returning home
4. Care Hotel - uncommon, but there are some places that offer hospital step-down services staffed by nurses 24/7 for individuals who may no longer be acutely unwell, but need some additional support before returning home
5. Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit - additional multi-disciplinary assessment for the elderly (particularly those with cognitive decline) overseen by a Geriatrician - most commonly used while determining the next suitable step for the individual
6. Transition Care Programme (TCP) - 12 weeks multi-disciplinary care for those who have capacity to return to living independently at home - can be provided in a residential aged care facility or in the individuals home 
7. Care Awaiting Placement (CAP) - for people that require additional support & may need to move permanently into a residential care facility, however are still deciding where they may go 
8. Residential Respite - could be used for short-term additional support or when trialing residential care facilities
9. Permanent Residential Care - moving into an aged care facility permanently, typically for those who require a higher level of care and may not be suitable for rehabilitation programs

As always, please send through any questions! You can do this through the contact page on our website - www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast. 

Finding your individual purpose and meaning are integral to helping you feel connected. The more clarity we have around our purpose and what brings us a sense of fulfilment, the less lonely we're going to be. 

Finding your purpose can feel overwhelming and complex, however today we work through some simple questions to reflect on that will assist with getting to the core of what lights your fire and what you're passionate about.

Reflective questions:

• What do I want my life to look like? 
• Over my lifetime, what activities have I loved and how can I incorporate that into my life today?
• If all my stress were gone, what would my life look like? 
• Reflecting back on my life, what would I be proud of or what might I regret?
• Are there particular areas where people seek my advice?

As always you can find us at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast 

Loneliness and social isolation are such common phenomenon for the elderly, with 1 in 3 seniors living alone in Australia* and 20% expressing daily feelings of loneliness**. Often this is met with a feeling of fear or shame which can lead to further withdrawal and potentially depression. 

In E34 I talk with Wellbeing Coach and Positive Psychologist, Stephanie Noon (aka. my Mum!), all about loneliness, social isolation & strategies we can use to start re-connecting with others. 

Some of the key strategies we discuss are:

• Start small - at the start of your day plan 1-2 small actions that you're going to take e.g. prune the roses, check in on a neighbour
• Don't stop - when you start to procrastinate or avoid the task, be gentle with yourself, acknowledge the feeling & then take a step of action straight away
• Magnify - enhance the dopamine! Take a moment to reflect on the achievement and how good it feels to accomplish it for 10 to 20 seconds
• Accountability Buddy - organise a partner that can help keep you accountable for your 1-2 actions each day
• Power of words/thoughts - be aware of how your words and thoughts impact your brain chemistry e.g. instead of 'I am sick today', you can think 'My body is healing today' 

As always you can find us at www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au, on Instagram @thetruthaboutageing or on Facebook @thetruthaboutageingpodcast :)

*https://www.dss.gov.au/communities-and-vulnerable-people-programs-services/seniors-connected-program
**https://theconversation.com/i-tell-everyone-i-love-being-on-my-own-but-i-hate-it-what-older-australians-want-you-to-know-about-loneliness-166109

Today we are talking all things Residential Aged Care (RAC) Placement with the lovely Tamara. Tamara is accredited Social Work with the AASW and has worked in the aged care sector for 8 years. Tamara now runs her own private practice specialising in aged care services and residential placement and shares her many nuggets of wisdom in today's ep!

The key pieces Tamara discusses today are:

1. Knowing what your preferences are when it comes to a facility (e.g. location, meals, private bathrooms) and narrowing down sites based on your personalised check-list

2. Booking a tour at the facility and pay attention to factors like:

• Are there any strong smells? 
• Do the residents appear engaged and happy? 
• Can you observe sufficient staff? 
• What do the meals look like and do they have a choice of meal options? 
• What additional services does the site offer? 
• What is their activity program? 
• Do the staff say hello when you enter?

3.  What to do in the situation you require emergency respite?

4. When to access a private broker to assist you with finding a residential bed

5. What to be aware of when it comes to RAC costs and what to ask facilities

If you want to contact Tamara for any additional information or for assistance with finding your loved one a residential placement, please contact her via the details below:
Phone - 0414 250 665
Email - [email protected]
Website - www.adelaidehillscc.com