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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on May 4, 2013 at 10:43am

Growing older is a biological process yet the anti-ageing industry promises is growing at a very fast pace and is difficult to regulate. Some such industries promise mush and deliver little.

3 May 2013, 2.31pm EST

Old but not wise? Our growing anti-ageing industry

Growing old is generally viewed in negative terms in our society. And our individualistic and consumerist approach to health care leads us to believe that it’s within our power to alter the “biological clock” — if we are willing and able to pay.

But while lifespans may be increasing (largely due to improvements in living standards), there’s no evidence that medicine can alter the process of human biological ageing.

Still, numerous so-called anti-ageing treatments are currently advertised and available for purchase via the internet. These cover a broad spectrum, including cosmetic treatments, hormone replacement therapies, implants, prosthetic devices and stem cell treatments. Some providers even offer the treatments as part of a packaged holiday, offering surgery alongside sand and sunshine.

In Australia, some common treatments include non-surgical facelifts, anti-wrinkle injections and “dermal fillers”, permanent hair removal and laser treatments....

http://theconversation.com/old-but-not-wise-our-growing-anti-ageing...

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on May 4, 2013 at 3:25pm

I have some concerns regarding the young being involved in meals-on-wheels unless there is adequate screening of their background, experience, and reasons for wanting to be involved. We need to remember that these youth will be entering the homes of elderly citizens who are our most vulnerable community.

Meals on Wheels woos youth to plug volunteer gap

AM 

By social affairs reporter Sally Sara

Updated 3 hours 6 minutes ago

Meals on Wheels is warning that it is running out of volunteers to keep up with the demands of a rapidly ageing community.

The service is trying to recruit young people to fill its ranks, and says without new recruits it might not be able to continue in the long term.

Chief executive officer of Meals on Wheels NSW, Les MacDonald, says the organisation's volunteers are getting older.

"Unless we can replace them with younger generations of volunteers, we face the prospect of Meals on Wheels not being around in 10 to 15 years," he said....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-04/meals-on-wheels-woos-youth-to...

Does anyone else here share my concerns?

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on May 7, 2013 at 5:51pm

74-year-old woman bashed, hospitalised - all for 40 cents    

May 7, 2013, 3:25 p.m.

Source: Port Macquarie News

A woman received a fractured shoulder and broken nose after she was robbed in a northern NSW street on Monday night.

The 74-year-old woman was with her 90-year-old husband in Ridge Street, Nambucca Heads about 7.15pm when they were approached by a young man.

Police were told the man grabbed the woman’s handbag and punched her in the face, breaking her shoulder and nose.

She was knocked unconscious to the ground before the youth ran from the scene.....

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1484203/74-year-old-woman-bashed-h...

I really get angry when I read such stories. The aged are not able to defend themselves against much younger men and are thus seen as easy targets. Shame Australia! Shame!

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on May 8, 2013 at 10:11am

There is nothing I can add to this except to say that Yes it does happen and it can sometimes be more covert than overt.

Helpline uncovers elder abuse cases

Posted     Tue May 7, 2013 12:21pm AEST      

An advertising campaign to tackle elder abuse in Tasmania has uncovered 60 cases.

The "Elder Abuse is Not Ok" campaign was launched last September, with the State Government giving Advocacy Tasmania $120,000 to run a helpline for victims.

In just four months 60 cases of abuse were reported, with women making up 70 per cent of victims.

Advocacy Tasmania says the helpline has confirmed psychological and emotional abuse of the elderly is not uncommon....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/helpline-uncovers-elder-abuse...

 

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on May 8, 2013 at 10:28am

yea herd that on the news Caroline.  I think the young are getting more desperate with all the alarms around the homes and seeing camera's, as well as not so easy to swipe a car these days either,  and so we are a target out on the street. But what there forgetting we have wised up, we don't carry any money on us these days, because we are battling too and because we can't move fast we are target for sure. So we have change our game plan, we had too.  Shame on them.

Dr Caroline Wright said:

74-year-old woman bashed, hospitalised - all for 40 cents    

May 7, 2013, 3:25 p.m.

Source: Port Macquarie News

A woman received a fractured shoulder and broken nose after she was robbed in a northern NSW street on Monday night.

The 74-year-old woman was with her 90-year-old husband in Ridge Street, Nambucca Heads about 7.15pm when they were approached by a young man.

Police were told the man grabbed the woman’s handbag and punched her in the face, breaking her shoulder and nose.

She was knocked unconscious to the ground before the youth ran from the scene.....

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1484203/74-year-old-woman-bashed-h...

I really get angry when I read such stories. The aged are not able to defend themselves against much younger men and are thus seen as easy targets. Shame Australia! Shame!

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on May 8, 2013 at 7:50pm

`Seniors friendly' 

May 8, 2013, 10:05 a.m.

CONGRATULATIONS Launceston General Hospital, for the great work done to retain your "Baby Friendly" accreditation.

However, has there been similar thought to the "friendliness" of hospitals for seniors?

Statistics show that people more than 65 years of age are the greatest in-patient population yet of structures and funding generally guide hospitals to meet the needs of the "average adult" yet seniors are certainly not "average".

Their needs differ and their bodies change and react differently than "average" adults to health challenges and therapies.

In her address to the National Press Club (April 24) Ita Buttrose made several broad statements about the standards of care for our seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's Australia has recently launched a national document to rekindle public awareness of the need to consider the rights of people with dementia.

Our seniors have given us their best, surely it is time to give them our best.

- LEONIE MOSEL WILLIAMS, Senior Helpers Northern Tasmania director.

Letter to the Editor of the Examiner

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1486529/seniors-friendly/?cs=100

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