Health & Wellbeing

Sometimes a little extra support is all you need to remain living healthily and independently in your own home. There are many providers that offer support services, all across New Zealand and many of these  have detailed information about their services on the Eldernet site. The type of services on …

Age Concerns specialised Asian Services team working in partnership with A Better Chance Charitable Trust have introduced some new activities. One of these involves, inviting older Chinese people living alone to come to a dumpling making class. While they are making dumplings, they deliver talks on Positive Ageing – during …

Often we don’t realise we are quite deaf until that beloved, but brave, family member or friend erupts with frustration or sits you down to have one of those conversations about the impact your hearing loss is having on others. Hearing impairment can seem like an irritation for another person.  …

Retirement villages have expanded rapidly, now housing one in eight people aged 75 and over. Little is known though about residents, including their health status and needs. To remedy this, Dr Joanna Broad of the University of Auckland led a study of the residents of 33 villages in Auckland. The …

Chef Terence Austin is committed to ensuring older people get great food and the variety they deserve. His recipes are also sure to delight all ages – what grandchild can turn down a classic Kiwi afghan biscuit? This version of the home-baking staple has the added advantage of being gluten-free. …

Since 2003, Age Concern NZ has set up over 230 Steady As You Go© groups, and over 4,400 people take part weekly in the classes across Aotearoa. However, during the COVID-19 restrictions, the classes had to be paused due to lockdowns, limits on events and the risks associated with social …

New Zealand has switched from one dementia screening test to another, from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA©) to the Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (Mini-ACE). The new cognitive screening test evaluates four main areas – orientation, memory, language and visuospatial function. It is now the recommended screening tool for use by primary …

A new patient hoist that enables a single helper to pick up and move someone with mobility issues has won the Best Aged Care Solution category at the inaugural HealthTech Supernode Challenge, sponsored by Ryman Healthcare. Christchurch company HT Systems developed the Kera Transfer Aid, as the device is called. …

Vicky Graham and her dogs Hunter and Piers are part of Canine Friends, an organisation that has been arranging for dogs to visit rest homes for 30 years. She tells Eldernet why she finds the visits so rewarding, and what makes a good therapy dog. How did you come to …