Health, Wellbeing & Family

Maintaining and improving your health as you get older is critical. About Seniors can help you understand the Aged Care maze. While our Men's Health and Women's Health pages give you important information and updates.

About Seniors Medicare page provides the latest updates and news on Bulk Billing, the Federal Government 30% Private Health Insurance rebate and other relevant Senior Health information.

Home and Residence Choices for Older Australians

An important reference is the Department of Family and Community Services’s (FaCS) booklet Home and Residence Choices for Older People. It aims to help older Australians, their families and those who care for them, with important lifestyle and housing decisions.

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Over 65s exercise DVD

Keeping active is key to a long and happy life and age is no barrier as About Seniors subscriber, Pauline, understands at 65 years of age.

Q. Pauline
Would anyone be able to recommend a DVD exercise video for over 65s?

A. Pauline it’s great that your keen to keep active and an exercise video is a fabulous way to start.  Alison Ford is a physiotherapist from WA who has written a book, Actively Ageing, which comes with an accompanying DVD.  Her inspiration came from many years of working with older people and realising that no one seemed interested in providing suitable exercise programs for those over 65 years of age.

The book and DVD has a recommended retails price of $100 but you can buy it from the Actively Ageing website for $55.  Perhaps consider splitting the cost with friends and sharing the DVD.

For more information or to purchase the book and DVD bundle, visit www.activelyageing.com

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Prostate cancer screening

Having a simple blood test to determine the presence of prostate cancer may seem like the easy option, when compared to the alternative examination.  But just how effective are these blood tests and do they really help?

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the blood test that detects the presence of prostate cancer, usually combined with a rectal examination.  With no major cancer organisation endorsing PSA screening, is there really a need for it?  Even the urologist from Stanford University in California who originally highlighted the PSA test, has recanted his statement.

The treatment for prostate cancer, even when detected early on, is radical and toxic, therefore, one would like to be certain that it is necessary.  PSA can detect rogue cells that may never develop into cancers, or may do so only at a much older age.  This why PSA should not be used in isolation.

For more information on Prostate screening.

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Women’s health checks

Aside from standard health checks that should be carried out regularly, there are some tests that women should have.

Breast cancer – self checking is important and for women between 50 and 69, a mammogram every two years is recommended.  Mammograms are free for women over 40 and women over 70 can continue to have mammograms but should consult their doctor before hand.

Cervical cancer – all women who have been sexually active and have not yet gone through the menopause should have a pap smear every two years.