One of the less commonly spoken about symptoms of old age is a tendency to produce more ear wax. Putting the indignity of it aside, producing excessive ear wax can also lead to health problems, such as hearing loss, hearing a ringing sound in your ears, and vertigo. What is ear wax? Earwax is not actually wax - it is a build up of dirt, dust and debris, bound together by a substance called cerumen. Cerumen is created by hormones...

Everyone says a week is a long time in politics and I think this one has been an extra-long week for many Australians. Whilst everyone I talk to across the community has been dismayed by the events of the last few weeks in politics. The chaos and division of the Liberals leadership challenge isn’t just bad for our democracy, it actively undermines policy development. These events could not come not at worse time for aged care and will further stall...

Swallowing is a vital part of every person’s life that can often be taken for granted. We need this process to help consume food, beverages and medications. Without it we would not survive. Swallowing is a complex process that involves various muscles, glands and nerves. As people age, many will find that they have trouble swallowing, or have “dysphagia”, for any number of reasons. Some older adults’ teeth are often weak or absent. Some will find that the mucosal surfaces...

Loneliness is one of the biggest problems encountered by older people. More often living alone, possibly restricted in what they can do, and sometimes no longer able to work or drive, the world can sometimes seem restricted for people once they reach a certain age, often leaving them feeling isolated and alone. Not having regular connections with others not only makes people feel miserable, it is now well established that it also has a negative impact on physical health. Research...

“One of the sets of information I just could not get past was what was occurring in our residential aged care sector”. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has today announced that his government will be launching a Royal Commission into the aged care sector. Speaking to the media early this afternoon, PM Morrison spoke of his government’s growing concern regarding the management of residential aged care services and the quality of care of their residents. The PM stated, “The work the...

It is often said the true measure of a society is found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. Older Australians, particularly those who require support, fall squarely into this category.  More than 1.3 million older Australians receive some form of aged care service today including nearly 240,000 in permanent residential aged care each year. With around 2,000 Australians turning 65 every week, and a further 1,000 turning 85, the demand for care and...

  When an elderly person shows signs of becoming forgetful, their friends and family may jump to the conclusion they have Alzheimer’s disease. It can be a worrying time for all involved. But becoming forgetful does not necessarily mean a person has Alzheimer’s disease. It may be nothing, or it could be a sign of dementia, which is not the same as Alzheimer’s. It’s important to understand the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, to in order to understand a diagnosis and...

Many families are finding themselves in the difficult situation of having to make decisions for a loved one that is living with some form of dementia. As the person living with dementia begins to deteriorate, multiple decisions need to be made by family members, who want to do their best, but don’t have a clear understanding of the paths that they can take in order to make those decisions. One of the decisions that demand our attention and decision making...

Could this be what the future of dementia care looks like? A new technique with online tools that puts carers front and centre is not only improving outcomes for carers, it’s also improving the care they are providing for their loved ones. It’s estimated more than 1.2 million Australians care for someone with dementia. With the number of people living with dementia in Australia expected to rise from more than 400,000 today to over one million by 2056...

This week there has been an unprecedented level of attention on the aged care sector after the Government called for a Royal Commission to address quality concerns, and amid harrowing revelations by Four Corners. Last night, the ABC’s ‘Matter of Fact’ continued the focus on the sector, speaking to three industry leaders, Annie Butler Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Ian Yates AM, Chief Executive of the Council of the Ageing, and John Pollaers OAM, former Chair of...

Last night Four Corners aired the first episode of its two-part series exposing the “everyday” suffering experienced by aged care residents, and the serious problems staff have observed the industry. The programme went to air only one day after the Government announced a Royal Commission into aged care in response to growing numbers of risk reports, facility closures, and accreditation failures. The programme, titled “Who Cares”, reveals the personal stories of families who watched their loved ones struggle in nursing...

I am a person with no clinical or “care” background. But after almost forty years in senior management and executive roles across the spectrum of health and aged care – particularly aged care – I have gathered some insights into the nature of care being provided throughout our care services. And before I suggest anything more, let me say this – my view is that if the major hospitals around Australia – public and private – were put under the...