Health & Wellbeing

As we are all aware, staying fit and healthy in old age is very important. The healthier you are, the more chance you have of avoiding certain medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. We also know that technology has come in leaps and bounds over the past two …

Recently Eldernet did a survey of residential care facilities in New Zealand and their stance on smoking. While it was not a scientifically valid survey, it did unearth some interesting points that are worth considering. Rest Homes and other Aged Residential Care facilities are unique environments where they are both …

Winter brings not only colder temperatures, but also an increase in coughs, colds, sore throats and influenza. Here are some tips to keep yourself well during the cooler months. Get the flu vaccination through your general practice team. This is free for anyone 65 or older.  Wash your hands thoroughly …

A third of people over the age of 65 fall every year and those with Dementia are even more likely to fall. Falls can cause shock, anxiety and loss of confidence, and physical damage such as fractures, bruising or head injury. This can cause the person to become isolated and …

Delirium is a sudden and severe temporary disturbance in thinking and brain function. It is caused by a stress on the brain. It is a common and serious condition. It can cause changes in a person’s ability to stay alert, to remember, to be oriented to time or place, or …

Your body is always changing, so this year you should make it a priority to keep up with your health. Here are a few changes you can make to make sure you live a happy and healthy year: It is a good idea to make an effort to visit the …

We all know how important physical activity is, but giving your brain a ‘workout’ is just as important. Although the brain accounts for only 2% of the whole body mass it uses approximately 20% of the blood flowing from the heart. Also, it uses approximately 20% of all the oxygen …

Hearing aids may slow or halt the onset of dementia.  Research is beginning to show that untreated hearing loss speeds up age-related decline in thinking ability.  In middle age hearing loss is the number one preventable contributor to future dementia.  Hearing aids may reduce these negative changes by improving communication, …

There’s no denying that water is good for you, but does everyone really need to drink 8 cups or more every day? For people who have specific health concerns, such as kidney stones or a tendency to develop urinary tract infections, drinking lots of water can be beneficial. There is …

There is a new fitness craze sweeping residential care centers across the world – silent discos. A silent disco is an event where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones. Rather than using a speaker system, music is broadcast via Bluetooth with the signal being picked up by wireless headphone receivers worn by …