What’s in the news around NZ? In this post we cover recent articles of interest published by a variety of news organisations around NZ including  NZ Herald, Otago Daily Times, Radio NZ, Stuff.co.nz, Beehive.govt.nz, Newshub. to name but a few. To access the article simply click on the link provided and you …

Achieving greater awareness and understanding of dementia has been a priority of Dementia and Alzheimer’s associations in New Zealand and worldwide. There has been an assumption that greater understanding and awareness are key to tackling the stigma surrounding the disease. The thinking has been broadened beyond awareness under the banner …

Sometimes older people put up with difficult situations relating to their health and wellbeing when they don’t have to. It may be possible to sort these problems out. This is where an assessment can be helpful. It’s like standing back and taking stock of all the things that might be …

A joint study, from University of NSW, Macquarie University and RMIT, found that aged care staff are often too rushed to properly connect with their residents. Lead author Professor Gabrielle Meagher from Macquarie University said it was structurally difficult for residential and home care services to deliver person-centred care. “The …

Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in New Zealand. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, and most melanoma (80–96%) is caused by UV exposure. In 2018, New Zealand had the second highest melanoma incidence and mortality rates in the world, after Australia. In 2015, 378 people died …

Despite much research into the causes of dementia, many unanswered questions remain. The current evidence demonstrates that multiple factors, including age, genes, environment and lifestyle factors, contribute to whether a person develops dementia. However, recent research points to the possibility that up to half of the total dementia burden in …

Skype, email and messaging apps can be a great way to connect with loved ones. More and more older people are getting the benefits from using social media. According to a report published by Pew Research Centre in 2015, 35% of all American adults aged 65 and older said they were …

For a number of reasons, Christmas may not be the joyful holiday for older people it is made out to be in film and TV. Loneliness, mobility restrictions and disability may impact on an older persons’ ability to join in with on the Christmas celebrations. Here are a few ideas …

This story has been republished with the author’s permission. To read the original article click here. When the Artzheimers group visits Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū the members are stimulated, not just by the paintings on the wall, but also by the caring presentations they hear from curators and …

Chronic loneliness is not only horrible to experience day in, day out, it can also have a devastating impact on an older person’s mental and physical health. Studies show that about 10% of those over the age of 65 who live alone experience chronic loneliness. Living in isolation and loneliness …