As people age, their skin becomes more fragile and vulnerable to damage, so people living in residential aged care are particularly at risk of suffering skin tears. A Western Australian wounds survey found that 16 per cent of aged care residents experienced skin tears, and that skin tears were the most common type of wound experienced by residents, even more common than pressure ulcers. As our population ages, skin tears are likely to become even more common, so understanding...

Agitation and aggression are common symptoms of dementia, and can be extremely challenging to manage, not only for the person experiencing the symptoms, but also for families and carers. But new research is shining a light on this complex field, and has revealed that non-pharmacological interventions, such as touch therapy, outdoor activities, and music, can be more effective in managing agitation and aggression than medication. Researchers say that up to 70 per cent of people living with dementia experience agitation...

  It’s a familiar tale. A person retires after a lifetime of hard work, only to fall ill, or even die, within a few months. They never have the chance to enjoy their hard-earned retirement. Now researchers have examined this frustrating connection, and have found that people who retire early experience some health benefits. They sleep better and have lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption. But retirement can also lead to a decline in brain function, which can be an early...

Roughly one-third of people aged 85 and older have some form of Alzheimer’s disease which occurs through a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.  Memory loss is perhaps the most well-known symptom of Alzheimer’s, which can have a devastating effect on an individual's ability to remember familiar people, places and environments. Our memories allow us to add context to situations and have a direct impact on our ability to maintain meaningful relationships with those around us.  Memories...

  It’s a familiar tale. A person retires after a lifetime of hard work, only to fall ill, or even die, within a few months. They never have the chance to enjoy their hard-earned retirement. Now researchers have examined this frustrating connection, and have found that people who retire early experience some health benefits. They sleep better and have lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption. But retirement can also lead to a decline in brain function, which can be an early...

As the world struggled to come to grips with the devastation of World War 1, the poppy flowers that grew amongst the graves of fallen soldiers became a symbol of the sacrifices that were made and a reminder that new life goes on. Those poppy flowers were immortalised in a poem called ‘In Flanders Fields’ and sparked the idea of selling handmade poppy flowers as a way to raise funds for wounded ex-soldiers. Over 100 years later, the selling of...

Agitation and aggression are common symptoms of dementia, and can be extremely challenging to manage, not only for the person experiencing the symptoms, but also for families and carers. But new research is shining a light on this complex field, and has revealed that non-pharmacological interventions, such as touch therapy, outdoor activities, and music, can be more effective in managing agitation and aggression than medication. Researchers say that up to 70 per cent of people living with dementia experience agitation...

  A new drug that could halt the progress of early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease is being assessed by the US drug regulator, with hopes it could be approved for use as soon as next year. If approved, the drug, aducanumab, could change the lives of millions of people around the world. To date, no medication has been able to stop or slow the progress of dementia, and treatment has instead focused on easing symptoms of the condition. But US pharmaceutical giant...

When it comes to cognitive impairing diseases like Alzheimer's, quite often the warning signs present themselves to the ones around us long before the person displaying the symptoms comes to the realisation that there might be an issue. After 42 years of marriage, it’s safe to say that on some level you may actually know more about your partner than they know about themselves, and this is why 60-year-old Kathy Barnbrook became suspicious when she noticed a number of changes...

  The federal government has said it will support all 23 of the recommendations made in the report on the inquiry into events at Earle Haven. The inquiry was established by the federal government to investigate what happened on the night 69 residents, many of whom had dementia, were evacuated without warning and with nowhere to go. The inquiry was led by Kate Carnell AO, who co-authored the Carnell Paterson review of the aged care sector in 2016-2017. Financial considerations...

  Intergenerational programs, such as ABC’s Old People's Home For 4-Year-Olds, aren’t only for the youngest members of the community. Secondary School students from Parade College, Bundoora regularly visit their next-door neighbours at VMCH Bundoora Aged Care Residence. The students volunteer their time assisting with and participating in the activities each week. The most popular activity is very competitive bocce game. The students bring along each of the residents who need assistance, helping them to find the perfect spot for...

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety hearings in Hobart this week have focused on two aged care facilities operated by Southern Cross Care Tasmania, Yaraandoo and Glenara Lakes. The forensic case study has revealed dangerous medication mismanagement, neglect, poor leadership, and staff shortages. The focus has been on the governance practices of SCCT, with Peter Rozen QC, explaining governance is the systems organisations use to control their operations and the mechanisms it has to hold people to...