Seniors Health Information & Resources
As always, health information you might find on the internet, in publications or get from friends is at best a guide and is no substitute for advice from a real doctor.
This site does not have detailed information about health matters. It has links to other sites which may include the detail you are after. If you are seeking information on a particular disease or condition, such as high blood pressure or angina, go to one of the links below.
- For comprehensive information on health matters go to the Australian Government departments:
- Australian Medical Websites. A list of many of the medical websites within Australia.
Go there
- Adverse Medicine Events. Consumer access to advice about adverse drug reactions and medication errors through the Adverse Medicine Events consumer reporting hotline.
Go there
or phone Adverse Medicine Events Line 1300 134 237
- Better Health Channel. Established by the Victorian Government, its role is to provide the community with access to online health information which is quality assured, reliable, up-to-date, and locally relevant. Under the topic "Life stages" are more than 60 articles for seniors.
Go there
- Drug database at myDr. Information on prescription, over-the-counter and some alternative medicines available in Australia.
Go there
- GastroNet Australia provides accurate, up-to-date information for patients, to be used with guidance from health professionals. The site includes information and links on gastrointestinal diseases, special diets and patient support organisations.
Go there
- HealthAtoZ is a comprehensive health and medical resource developed by healthcare professionals. The site includes interactive tools, community tools, and information centres giving free and fast access to health and medical information.
Go there
- HealthInsite is an Australian Government initiative. It aims to improve the health of Australians by providing quality information from leading health information providers. A comprehensive resource of up-to-date information on topics such as diabetes, cancer, mental health, hypertension and asthma. Grouping is by lifestyle, conditions and diseases, life stages and events and population groups.
Go there
- Health Network is an online health information database separated into life stages. You can also browse by condition, treatment and test. It also publishes a wide range of information on worldwide health and welfare issues for travellers.
Go there
- Holistic Medicine. Holistic-online provides detailed information about holistic, integrative, alternative, and mind-body therapies. Topics include natural remedies, nutrition, vitamins and minerals.
Go there
- Home Medicines Review. You may benefit from this program if you take a number of medicines, if you are having difficulty with your medicines or if you have recently been discharged from hospital or from care. Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you think you might benefit from a home medicines review. The government pays the pharmacist and the GP's service will be charged the same as for any other consultation (that is, it may be bulk billed or you pay the doctor and claim a medicare rebate). Find out more:
Go there
Phone PBS Information Line: Freecall 1800 020 613
- The US Mayo Clinic's comprehensive website has a wealth of information on disease management and medicines. The Drug Information covers prescription and over-the-counter drugs (in the US).
Go there
- Medicines Line is a National Prescribing Service (NPS) telephone information service which provides consumers with independent and accurate information about the safe and effective use of their medicines.
Go there
Phone 1300 888 763, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm EST.
- MEDLINEplus Health Information is a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. 'Health Topics'; has information on conditions, diseases and wellness, plus a medical encyclopedia, and "Drug Information" has details on generic and brand name drugs.
Go there
- Men's Health Program is from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. While aimed at veterans, most of the information is applicable to all men.
Go there
- Multicultural Health Communication Service, NSW provides information on various health topics in many languages including English.
Go there
- Olderwise from the Wesley Healthwise Centre in Queensland aims to:
- Supply older people with information that is current, relevant and accurate;
- Provide a means by which you can identify health services and resources;
- Assist you in your search for information.
In addition to general health advice there is information and links for major conditions of the body and mind. Go there
- Pelvic Floor Function...and the Bowel. This website is aimed at women who have bowel problems which may relate to pelvic floor muscle weakness.
Go there
- Preventing Falls. NSW Health has a comprehensive report 'Preventing Injuries from Falls in Older People.' It discusses the many causes of falls and the countermeasures that can be applied.
Go there
- Science for Seniors. This US site has the latest information about diabetes, congestive heart failure, alzheimers, cancer and ageing. Science for Seniors is about making sure we are not left behind on the road ahead when it comes to senior health medicine, assistive technologies and new knowledge that can empower seniors.
Go there
Beating bad habits
Beating addictions and abandoning bad habits is hard going, confirms Di Websdale-Morrissey, but with the right help and motivation it can be done.
The second halves of our lives are different from the first. We’ve seen enough of life to know what we want from it; we understand ourselves and why we make the choices we do. With this comes, with luck, the wisdom necessary to make better choices than we did in our youth. Yet experience and knowledge notwithstanding, we tend to cling to old habits as if we had no option.
Throughout Part One of our lives we’ve hopefully accumulated the wherewithal to spend Part Two in relative comfort, but we’ve spent those same years accumulating personal habits to which, for various reasons, we cling. Some fall under the ‘who’s it harming?’ category: fingernail chewing, knuckle cracking. Others are less benign: smoking, excessive drinking, over-eating, gambling or compulsive shopping. Each of these can range from habit to fullblown addiction, and within each lurks the capacity to shorten or restrict our life – perhaps both.
People know that smoking causes cancer, among a raft of other health problems, yet still they smoke. They know that their diabetes and cancer risks increase greatly with age, yet remain overweight and fail to exercise.
In our youth, these health specters lived in a distant future of post-middle age – a country a thousand miles away. Well guess what? We have arrived and stand face-to-face with the spectres, yet still prevaricate. Where once we were too young to worry, now we use the opposite excuse: “I’m too old to change now. It’s too late”.
It’s never too late to change. Sir Richard Doll, the scientist who first alerted the world to the dangers of smoking, recently demonstrated that smokers who quit at the age of 35 reduce their cancer risk by 90 per cent; those who quit at 50 halve their cancer risk. Yes, the advantages of quitting reduce with age, but they are still impressive and strongly motivational.
Habits are not intrinsically bad. The habit of having a glass or two of red with dinner might be beneficial. If you cannot choose to stop there, or if you need that drink earlier and earlier in the day, you are entering the danger zone.
Habits are distinguished from addictions by the willpower test. If you (genuinely) have control over the action and can simply stop it at will, then it is a habit. Unfortunately, a habit can develop into an addiction without you noticing.
Philosopher Samuel Johnson wrote, ‘The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken’, but despite this rather pessimistic pronouncement, habit and addiction chains are vulnerable to powerful motivation. Colin had smoked for 48 years, but when his wife was diagnosed with cancer he worried that it was due to passive smoking. He quit the day of her diagnosis.
Gwen overindulged and spent long hours on the couch. Result? Obesity. When the doctor told her she had diabetes, Gwen considered the limb amputations and blindness issues that can accompany uncontrolled diabetes and switched to a healthier lifestyle. One year later her blood sugar levels are normal, her waistline is trim and she feels “20 years younger”.
Breaking free
The first step in breaking an addiction is recognising that you can’t just “give up any time you want”, which might have been your mantra for years and which you might even believe. If you truly need that glass of scotch, cigarette, kingsized carton of triple-choc rocky road ice-cream, then something other than you has control of your life. It will take time, motivation, willpower and possibly outside help, but you’ve got time now and a better later life is your motivation. Dig deep for the willpower and know that supports are available. Addictions are best tackled with help from psychologists or bodies such the Quitline and alcohol addiction clinics (see MORE box).
Habits, even deeply entrenched ones, are ‘bustable’, so make a promise to yourself and start now, using the following tips:
• recognise that it’s the habit that’s bad, not you
• believe in your ability to change
• visualise your post-habit self
• consider why you haven’t taken action before: loss of pleasure? Fear of letting go or failure?
• identify the habit’s triggers (stress, fatigue, visiting mum?) If you can’t change them, change your response: if you always have cake with your coffee, do the crossword instead – you’re distracting yourself and forming a better habit
• be patient. This is a process, not an event
• reward yourself at significant milestones
• focus on the longer term rewards awaiting you: walking up stairs without puffing; wearing glamorous clothes
• keep a log of your efforts
• stay positive – a slip is just that, not unforgivable failure.
For stubborn habits, try one of the behavioural therapies. Various approaches are on offer and whatever works for you is right. Do your research though. Carefully examine the nature of the therapy involved and ensure that it is conducted by a qualified person.
Resist, resist
Oscar Wilde once said, “I can resist anything but temptation” and our habits will tempt us back, singing their siren song of old comforts. Some people can resist with apparent ease. These rare and exalted beings walk and talk like us but are clearly not human. If you are human, temptation will croon its song and your subconscious will sing the harmony line.
Resist, adopting instead a counter strategy: don’t focus on your urge to shop, focus on the holiday you might have with the money saved. And plan for the beast and its irresistible song: if Saturday night usually finds you at the pokies, arrange in advance to go to a film with friends.
You’ve worked hard all your adult life. This is pay off time. Collect all the benefits due to you, and don’t let the health problems or personal issues from old, destructive habits ruin your grand designs for Life: Part Two.
More
Information and links regarding alcohol addiction:
Web www.healthinsite.gov.au
Information and links regarding eating disorders
Web www.healthinsite.gov.au
Information on gambling and Australian gambling support services
Web www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
Information about quitting smoking:
Web www.quitnow.info.au
Cancer Council Australia
Habit Change Cheatsheet:
Web www.zenhabits.net
Overview and tips: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Breaking Bad Habitsby Suzanne LeVert and Gary McClain
(available from Amazon.com)
Aches and pains
No matter how fit and healthy you try to keep yourself, getting up from the sofa without a groan or a creak isn’t easy. About Seniors has some handy tips on combating the most common ailments or how to recognise when pain may be an indication of something more serious.
Click the links below to view the downloadable PDF’s.
A pain in the… joints
A pain in the… heel
A pain in the… shoulder
A pain in the… chest
A pain in the… wrist
Super foods
Simple diet changes can help boost the immune system, improve cholesterol levels and even prevent cancer. Try adding some of these super foods to your everyday diet and reap the benefits.
Raw beetroot
Stay away from the tins of beetroot in sweet vinegar and try some raw, grated beetroot on salads and sandwiches. Beetroot is high in folate, which protects your heart and is high in antioxidants, which can prevent cancer.
Frozen peas
Frozen vegetables are often dismissed as being inferior to the fresh variety but freezing peas as soon as they are picked locks in the goodness of B vitamins - which give you energy, vitamin C and soluble fibre, which keeps your cholesterol in check.
Dark chocolate
Another source of antioxidants, dark chocolate may not be as popular as the milk variety but it’s better for your health and your waistline! Look for bars which contain at least 70% cocoa.
Prunes
The benefits of prunes on bowel movements are well documented but why is this so? Ferulic acid and natural sugars balance diets that are rich in red meat. This helps clean the digestive system and may offer protection from bowel cancer.
Fennel
Aside from the lovely aniseed flavour, fennel is also a rich source of vitamin C, which helps keep your joints healthy and boost immune systems. Fennel is truly a super food as the high levels of fibre, folate and potassium in this often under-used vegetable promotes cardiovascular and colon health.
Turmeric
Spices were often originally used for their associated health benefits rather than their flavour. Turmeric, in particular, is rich in curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and offers protection against bowel cancer.
For more foods that can help keep you healthy, visit Foodwatch.com.au.
Chasing the blues
Graeme Cowan is using the power of stories to help sufferers and those who love and care for them to cope with depression, as Di Websdale-Morrissey reports.
One night in 1988, in the small and lonely hours, 31-year-old Graeme Cowan left his wife asleep in bed, his daughter dreaming in her cot and tried to hang himself. Not once, but three times that night, he tried to end his life – and with it, his intractable depression. When the first rope snapped, he tried a stronger one; when that broke, he used a belt. Fortunately none worked, so Graeme thought that perhaps he was not meant to die that night, and called Lifeline.
On the surface Graeme Cowan was one of life’s success stories – he had a loving family and a well-paid corporate job. A casual observer would not have picked him as a person whose life had been savaged by the black dog of depression – and that is so often the case. If family and friends are unaware there is a problem, it festers in the dark, below the shiny surface and the pretence of coping. Graeme successfully hid his pain, even from his wife.
Since then he has written two books to help people understand depression and the many forms it can take. Unfortunately, his market is vast. Annually, more than three-quarters of a million Australians discuss depressive feelings with their GPs.
In Back from the Brink, Graeme talks primarily to the sufferer – explaining what is happening, and helping them to understand that their experiences, fears and isolation are shared with many others. But the nightmare can be just as destructive to those who love a depressed person, but feel unprepared, confused and just as lost. His second book, Back from the Brink Too, speaks to families and friends, helping them understand depression and explaining how they can improve life for the sufferer and themselves.
The books are the product of Graeme’s initial search for material about what he was going through. There were plenty of technical texts, but none told the stories he sought – stories that demonstrated how others have coped with their own black dogs.
“I yearned for stories about real people and their experiences,” he says. “Look at the books that have been around for a long time – the Bible and other religious texts – people like the parables, the stories.” Graeme believes that by telling true stories of people with depression – stories from former Olympians, politicians, poets and ordinary Australians, he can reach a wider range of people.
“I wanted to tell real stories that would make people feel less alone and would give them hope. I get emails from people who’ve read my books and they quote from different stories. Each reader finds a different person and story to connect with.”
For Graeme, that night in 1988 was not a turning point – there was no epiphany, but he slowly healed. In 2001, the depression returned and in 2004 he would again attempt suicide. He has made a long journey since then, one that included hospitalisation, electro convulsive therapy, medication and counselling. None proved an easy panacea or quick fix-it. Instead his sense of wellbeing evolved through a range of approaches. He does point to group counselling as an important contributor to his mental health, because it required him to set weekly exercise and social contact goals.
“That got me to about four out of 10 on the wellbeing scale, but it provided forward momentum.” He then heard bout the value of meditation and went to an Indian spiritual organisation for instruction. “After four or five months of meditation, I started to recover, reaching about seven on the scale.”
Now he could finally access sufficient energy and motivation to tackle the book that had been waiting for his attention. Its seeds, planted in the darkest of soils, resulted in a text of light and hope for people across the globe. Graeme sells to the United Kingdom, United States, the Middle East and Scandinavia.
The black dog roams with distressing freedom across geographical and social borders. And what of Graeme – all fixed now? Not definitively, but he can recognize the signs if the hound starts to nibble at his well-constructed defences. He knows that when he wakes in the early hours unable to get back to sleep, all is not well.
“I’m not so much fearful of slipping back, as hyper vigilant. When I see the warning signs I ask myself, ‘Have I been doing too much? Am I getting enough exercise?’ I then put my corrective plan into action. I aim for three outcomes: health and vitality; close, intimate relationships; a prosperous career – in that order. Once the career would have won out.”
Graeme acknowledges that there are many opinions out there about how one can achieve wellness. “Psychiatrists will tell you that it’s found in pills; psychologists will talk about cognitive changes; sociologists will speak of support networks. I believe in an holistic approach.” He lists seven things that help a sufferer back from the brink:
• exercise
• family/friends’ support
• counselling
• fulfilling work
• meditation
• nutrition
• medication.
Graeme worked closely with the Black Dog Organisation when researching his books. His insider knowledge coupled with their expert help and his heart for the work of helping others are reflected in Back from the Brink Too being named SANE Australia’s Book of the Year for 2009.
MORE
You can learn more about Graeme Cowan and order his books on his website, which also offers a range of information, news, education and advice on depression.
Web www.iambackfromthebrink.com
Overcoming shyness
Most people experience shyness from time to time but it can be a real hindrance for some, excluding them completely from social situations.
Some very famous and successful people suffer from shyness – Donnie Osmond, Barbara Streisand and even Sir Lawrence Olivier have found themselves red-faced and speechless when facing an audience. Understanding what causes shyness and the symptoms, can help you develop mechanisms to deal with tricky situations.
Blushing, sweating, stuttering, sweating, feeling faint or dizzy are all common symptoms of shyness. New situations, speaking in public, job interviews or talking to someone important are just some of the situations, which may bring on a bout of shyness.
If you suffer from shyness, taking a few steps before you find yourself in an awkward situation can help you deal with the symptoms:
· Learn some breathing exercises – slowing down your heart rate will stop the dizzy feelings and will give you a little time to compose yourself.
· Practice a standard response for meeting new people – introductions usually follow the same patter so have a few answers ready and you won’t feel as though you’ve been put on the spot.
· Practice speaking to small groups – try family and friends and talk about subjects which interest you and with which you feel comfortable.
· Slow your speech down if you tend to stutter or stammer. Just take your time, try to relax and let the other person hear what you have to say.
· Always have a tissue on hand to wipe away those beads of perspiration. You may not be able to stop the sweating but you can make sure few people notice.
· Improve your social skills, smile and be friendly and, if you feel comfortable enough, say hello to someone who catches your eye.
· Be upfront – tell people you are shy. More often than not, people will have felt the same at some point and will be able to relate to what you are going through.
Of course, sometimes shyness can be so extreme that it has a devastating effect on your life. In these cases, it is more likely to be anxiety and you may need to consult a doctor or seek some counselling to get to the bottom of these feelings.
For more information on shyness and anxiety, visit Shyness and Social Anxiety Treatment Australia.
Taking the test
We could understand the humble X-ray, but what do all those mysterious acronyms associated with today’s medical imaging really mean?
Di Websdale-Morrissey explains.
You leave your doctor’s consulting room happily clutching a prescription and referrals for blood tests and an MRI, but the language is foreign and the nature of the tests is unclear. Now, did the GP tell you to fast for the MRI, or was that for the blood test? Is it the test that is expensive, or was it the new medication? Doctors’ appointments can be fraught affairs in which you are often given both feedback about your symptoms and several sets of instructions. However patiently the doctor explains your management plan, barriers such as fear of diagnosis and even feelings of intimidation can block much of the information. No wonder many arrive at the radiology appointment unsure of what is about to happen.
We live in an age when medical imaging has reached extraordinary heights. In addition to the traditional radiograph (X-ray), medical practitioners have a veritable alphabet soup of imaging techniques with which to create images of our bodies’ interiors: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imagery); PET (Positron Emission Tomography); CT scans (Computerised Tomography). They are marvellous aids to diagnosis and treatment, but even when the acronyms are spelt out, most of us are still unclear about how they work or why they have been requested. Even the department names can be confusing – whereas we used to look for the X-ray or radiology
department, we are now more likely to find what we need labelled Diagnostic or Medical Imaging. This makes sense given the vast array of imaging wizardry such departments house, but for the uninitiated, it can be confusing.
Then there is the niggling issue of radiation – how much is too much? We have been told for years that too many X-rays can cause problems and some tests require an injection of radioactive isotopes. Will one more chest X-ray, or a sojourn in a PET scanner, leave us glowing in the dark? Clearly no, but any questions you have are valid and
you have a right to ask them. Often the best person to ask will be your radiologist (see ‘Testing terms’ box).
The term ‘radiation exposure’ comes laden with thoughts of atomic bombs and reactor breakdowns. Yes, it is something of which we should be mindful, but a little knowledge can allay fears and debunk apocryphal stories. Let’s examine the facts: we are constantly bombarded with low amounts from cosmic background radiation and other environmental sources that pose no great threat. In Australia, we have little cause to worry about radiation from our geology, although in places such as Cornwall and Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, granite deposits emit radon gas, which has been implicated in a higher incidence of lung cancer.
A four-hour flight involves the same X-ray exposure as one chest X-ray – that is, it poses a one in a million risk of causing cancer. Higher dose health examinations, such as CT body scans, carry a one in 10,000 to one in 1000 risk. Considering that we all have a one in three chance of developing cancer anyway, the test’s risk is worthwhile if it materially helps our health management. Radiologists are skilled in using the least amount of exposure to produce optimal results.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) representative Dr Catherine Mandel says, “One of the guiding principles in radiology is ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable. Still, you shouldn’t have a test that does not have the potential to alter your management. Unnecessary tests are a waste of time and money, may cause stress and anxiety and can expose patients to more radiation than they need.”
Medibank statistics indicate a high level of referral for CT of the lumbar spine. Dr Mandel says, “This is a high dose procedure and some patients seem to be referred for a CT every time they have back pain. Guidelines suggest that unless there are ‘red flag’ sign/symptoms, or the pain persists for several weeks, imaging is not appropriate. This situation is made more complex in Australia because GPs cannot refer patients for MRI of the spine (the test of choice if imaging is needed) so they fall back on CT. It would not be appropriate to perform an MRI on every patient with back pain, but GPs tell us that patients often expect them to order a test.”
An independent report commissioned by RANZCR’s Quality Use of Diagnostic Imaging (QUDI) program flagged a significant incidence of referrals for spinal X-rays from chiropractors – far more than any other allied health profession. These are usually images of the whole spine and pelvis, some of the higher dose plain X-rays, and thus involve incidental higher dose exposure to more sensitive tissues such as thyroid, breasts and gonads.
RANZCR is committed to helping demystify the world of radio-diagnostics so that patients can understand the
nature of their imaging tests. To this end, QUDI is producing a helpful guide and hopes this will answer many of our questions; leaflets will be available in June 2009 from www.ranzcr.edu.au.
Dr Mandel has this sage advice for anyone using an imaging service:
• If you don’t understand the nature of the test or why it has been requested – ask. This is your body and your money, so find out the reason for the test and how it will help your health management.
• Keep your old films and bring them with you. Radiologists who see a spot on your images cannot know how long it has been there, or whether it has grown, unless they have a past image for comparison.
• Provide the radiologist with relevant information. Some conditions and implants can preclude the use of some imaging techniques. For example, a pacemaker eliminates MRI from the radiology options. Any metal must be discussed before MRI. Tell your radiologist about any recent metal implants such as screws, plates (even tattoos, which often have metal particles in the dye). As a rule, the MRI can proceed once implants have attached firmly to surrounding tissue, but even then radiologists can better interpret the results if they know about the metal implants. Aneurysm clips must be declared, as should any metal lodged in the eye. The MRI’s magnetic field might cause them to shift and damage delicate tissues.
• Be patient if you have been asked to wait while the films are checked for technical adequacy. If more are required don’t worry – it might simply mean that the image was not of sufficient quality for effective assessment.
• You will usually be sent home and asked to contact your doctor for the results. Many tests take considerable time to assess accurately, and radiologists should not be hurried – their work is exacting and a thorough check is undeniably better than a cursory one.
• Ensure that you contact the referring doctor to get your results, even though some doctors will take a ‘don’t call me, I’ll call you if there is a problem’ attitude. Mistakes happen. Occasionally a report goes astray and an organizationally challenged doctor might not realise the report is missing.
Be your own best advocate in matters of medical imaging. Ask the practitioner – whether medical or allied health practitioners such as physiotherapists or chiropractors – what the results of any tests will mean for your treatment. If the answer does not justify the test, consider carefully before proceeding. The exposure should be weighed against the benefits and often the knowledge gained by the procedure far outweighs any small risk. If in doubt – ask a radiologist or go to the RANZCR website, which is reliable, current and comes clean of vested interest.
We live in an age of great medical technology, but also an age of easily accessed expert information, so don’t feel confused or intimidated by that radiological referral.
Testing terms
Radiologist: a doctor who has specialised in the use of imaging techniques for diagnosis and treatment.
Radiographer: a medical imaging technologist skilled in the use of imaging machinery.
Plain X-rays pass small amounts of radiation in the form of X-rays through a part of the body to detail the structures through which it passes. They are mostly used to image uncomplicated bone fractures, breasts (mammography) and chest problems.
Fluoroscopy uses a continuous beam of low dose X-rays to watch what is happening inside the body in real time. It allows radiologists to perform interventions such as angiography, thrombolysis and other guided procedures.
Computerised tomography uses X-rays to visualise slices of the body in affected areas. Radiologists can reconstruct the axial images to visualise other planes and use 3D rendering. It is used to examine soft tissue and the spine.
Ultrasound uses low energy sound waves. It is most effectively used to examine the kidneys, liver, ovaries/testes and thyroid.
MRI uses strong magnetic fields and non-ionising radio waves. It usually examines the brain and spinal cord and also the joints, rectum, cervix, prostate, breasts and liver.
PET tracks pairs of gamma rays emitted by short-lived radioactive isotopes and is introduced into the bloodstream by injection (nuclear medicine also uses injected radio isotopes). PET can detect cellular changes and be used to identify tumours and certain brain diseases.
MORE
Fact sheets on health and ionising radiation:
Web - www.arpansa.gov.au
Medicare bulk billing
You may be lucky enough to be offered a bulk billing service by your medical practitioner but what exactly does this entail?
Medical practioners have two ways of charging for patient services, they can either issue the patient with a bill, or bulk bill Medicare directly. When issued with a bill, the patient has the responsibility of paying and then claiming from Medicare. This usually results in a deficit for the patient as the medical practitioner may charge more than the Medicare benefit.
The option of bulk billing is usually preferable. Medical practitioners bill Medicare directly, which means the patient doesn’t need to pay the bill, nor are they out of pocket. The patient will be asked to sign a form authorising that their Medicare benefits can be assigned to their treatment by the practitioner. Medical practitioners usually bulk bill children, pensioners, those receiving benefits and those being treated under a Government health scheme, such as the Mental Health Care program.
For more information on bulk billing, ask your medical practitioner or visit Medicare.
Back in the Saddle
If you’ve been single for a while you can get set in your ways and the thought of sharing your life with someone new can be daunting. This week we try to take some of the fear out of starting a new relationship and in our handy downloadable PDF, Back in the saddle, Kate Johnston looks at bringing the passion back into your love life. Two can live as cheaply as one, or so they say.
Tackling elder abuse
Do you know about the Elder Abuse Prevention Association? It’s a non-for-profit, independent organisation offering consumer advocacy, workshops for aged care workers, presentations to raise awareness within the community and much more.
The association also provides counselling for older people, their families and aged care providers, and policy initiation and training packages for residential care facilities and community care agencies. And if your family is in the awful position of needing representation in a disputed matter, they can help.
Though based in Victoria, the association services all states and territories. Even if you’ve heard of them before you might want to note that they’ve moved premises and have new contact details:
Elder Abuse Prevention Association
Suite 3, 49 Wadham Parade, Mount Waverley, VIC
Ph 1300 884 665
To go to their website, click here
Cyber Health Scams
Many people now look to the internet for readily available health information. But the internet also gives the opportunity for fraudulent health products and treatments to be promoted, wasting your money and perhaps even harming your health.
The International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN), of which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is a member, offers the following tips to avoid health fraud:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is;
- Beware of products or treatments that are advertised as a quick and effective cure-all for a wide range of ailments or for an undiagnosed pain;
- Be cautious of testimonials claiming amazing results;
- Watch out for promoters who use phrases such as 'scientific breakthrough', 'miraculous cure', 'exclusive product' and 'secret ingredient'; and
- Before you purchase, consult your pharmacist, doctor or other health professional.
If you believe you have been a victim of a health scam on the internet, report the matter to the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.
Elder Abuse
- A leaflet available through the New South Wales Senior Information Service succinctly covers types of abuse, why we don't hear more about it, why it happens, where to go for help and related information.
Go there - Elder abuse prevention unit. A Queensland organisation which promotes the rights of older people to live free from abuse.
Go there - Contact the following if you would like to discuss issues related to elder abuse:
- Australian Capital Territory – ACT Disability Aged and Carers Advocacy Service (ADACAS)
Phone (02) 6242 5060 - New South Wales – Seniors Information Service
Phone 13 12 44 - Northern Territory – Phone any Aged Care Assessment Team
- Queensland – Elder Abuse Prevention Unit Helpline
Phone 1300 651 192 - South Australia – Aged Rights Advocacy Service
Phone (08) 8232 5377 - Tasmania – Department of Health and Human Services
Phone (03) 6336 5503 - Victoria – Carers Association Victoria
Freecall 1800 242 636 - Western Australia – Crisis Care Line
Phone (09) 9223 1111
Emergency Cards
MedicAlert. This system provides personal medical identification information by way of:
- Bracelet/necklet
- Wallet card
- Computer data bank
- 24 hour telephone answering service
Medic Alert Australia
Go there
Health Insurance
iSelect is an advisory service helping you select a policy from any participating insurer. iSelect helps you identify a health insurance policy that meets your needs and budget from their participating funds.
Go there
Healthy Eating
- Australian Guide to Healthy Eating: Information about the amounts and kinds of food you need each day to get enough of the nutrients essential for good health and wellbeing.
Go there
- Better Health Channel has an alphabetical list of all the food facts articles, plus health promoting recipes.
Go there
- Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults: Produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults highlight the groups of foods and lifestyle patterns that promote good nutrition and health. The use of the guidelines will encourage healthy lifestyles that will minimise the risk of the development of diet-related diseases.
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- Dietitians Association of Australian (DAA). A nutrition focused organisation with a website providing up-to-date information. The Nutrition A-Z section is comprehensive. Check also the Healthy eating self-assessment to see if dietary changes are indicated.
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- Food and Nutrition from Health Insite covers a range of subjects, from the nutritional benefits of particular foods to food safety and medical conditions affected by diet, such as diabetes and heart disease.
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- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (formerly ANZFA) protects the health and safety of the people in Australia and New Zealand by maintaining a safe food supply. Find out about what's in food (e.g. additives, GM food, caffeine, percentage labelling, food irradiation, mercury in fish), food recalls and safety, check ANZFA's media releases and much more.
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- Foodwatch. The site for information on healthy food, nutrition, food labelling, weight reduction and more.
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- Nancy Frawley's Healthy Eating. Linking you to nutrition and fitness info with one of the largest collections of healthy online eating/fitness links.
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- Nutrition Australia. A non-government, non-profit community based organisation that aims to provide scientifically based nutrition information to encourage all Australians to achieve optimal health through food variety and physical activity. Check 'Nutrition in Later Life' among many valuable fact sheets.
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Return Unwanted Medicines
The National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines Ltd, known as the RUM program, is a national not-for-profit company, set up to enable consumers to return unwanted or out-of-date medicines to any pharmacy, at any time. The medicines returned are in no way reused or recycled. So sort out you out-of-date and unwanted medicines and drop them in to your local pharmacy. Find out more about the RUM program:
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Sex Advice
Erectile Dysdunction
- Impotence Australia. A not-for-profit organisation that was set up to decrease the suffering of men with impotence and their partners by providing quality telephone counselling. In addition to telephone counselling, Impotence Australia provides information fact sheets on many sexual issues.
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- Impotence-guide.com. Most men will have to face up to the challenge of impotence at least once in their lifetime...If you have a problem then a visit to this site could help.
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Sex & Ageing. From the Sexual Health InfoCentre, one of the most popular sources of sexual health information on the Internet.
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Sex and the Ageing Process. An article from another Australian site, myDr.
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