2008 Small Business Award

Centacare North East Community Care is a winner of the 2008 Business Achievers Award in the Community Service & Non-Profit Organisations  Category. Small Business Employee of the Year Award went to our excellent cook Elaine Andrew

Program Update & Notice: Occupational Therapy

Some Tips Preventing Falls at Home

Safety Tips at Home. ·        When inside your house ensure all outside doors are locked. ·        Keep keys in locks if you have deadlocks while inside house in case of emergencies. ·        If you own valuable property keep a photographic record of all items and engrave your property. ·        Have regular contact with some one you trust. ·        Arrange to have letter box regularly emptied and house kept an eye on by a trusted neighbour if going away. ·        Never have large amounts of money in your house. ·        Have a trusted neighbour look after spare keys. ·        Inform police if you have been harassed, robbed or attacked in your house. Unknown Visitors? ·        If you’re not sure who it is, don’t open the door. ·        If someone is at the door and you are alone, pretend someone else is there. ·        Be suspicious of people wanting to enter your home. Ask for identification, look at it carefully and contact their office for verification. ·        If someone wants to use your phone for an emergency, offer to make the call for them, but keep them out.    Con Artists? They are friendly and clever. They want to trick you out of money or property. If they attempt to bully you, call the police. Beware of: ·        Something for nothing ·        “you have won a contest” ·        cash only “opportunities” ·        Home improvement offers ·        Get rich schemes ·        “Service calls" you didn’t request.

 More information is avaible from Seniors.gov.au

Home Corner
 

We have cooked again !!!

* We have  made some delicious cookies, biscuits and  pizza.

* Thank you all for participating and sharing your ‘hot' tips in the kitchen.

* Thank you Jack G. for donating  your cook  books. The books will come in handy in the weeks to come.

·                 Thank you Elaine and Jim for your assistance, support and patience. In particular , thank you for your hot tea and scones and your prize winning soups.

·                 Without you, it would be impossible to have so much fun and joy in the kitchen—not to mention delicious—home made sweets  and ‘delights’.

* Thank  you all  for making our days at the Centre worthwhile, enjoyable.  
Nikki.

Health Corner
 

* Health Care Hotline

A new health online has been established in QLD. It is staffed 24 hours a day to provide advice about non –life threatening medical situations and will also refer to local health services.

The hotline is staffed with experienced registered nurses to advise an appropriate course of action after listening to the callers’ symptoms.

The hotline number is : 13 43 25 84

 Attention: in any life threatening emergencies, always call 000 commonly called  ‘Triple 0 ’ for urgent assistance.

* Independent information about your medication—call : 1300 888 763

Visit : www.medicineline.com.au.

* Adverse medicines & when things go wrong—call 1300 134 237

Visit : www.safetyandquality.org

 Bye for now . Stay warm and well.
Nikki.

CBR- Day Respite Activites


 We would like thank you All for your attendance, participation and your patience. We would also like to express our gratitude to our 'clients- facilitators', namely Albert C ; Betty N ;Cheryl A ; Jack G ; Bill B ; and Beulah A;. for sharing their stories, hobbies, knowledge and experiences with US.
Bye now with warm regards
Nikki

Dementia

Definition of Dementia

This is a progressive organic mental disorder characterized by chronic personality disintegration, confusion, disorientation, stupor, deterioration of intellectual capacity and function, and impairment of control of memory, judgment and impulses.

Description of Dementia

The term dementia refers to an organically caused brain disorder resulting in an overall, or global, loss of intellect or essential mental capacity, usually accompanied by changes in personality, behavior and other character traits. The most striking changes involve memory and performance in almost all areas of life. Dementias include some of the most devastating mental disorders.

Dementia usually results from a widespread destruction of, or interference with, cells in diverse areas of the brain, with consequent loss of mental functions previously controlled by those cells.

Dementia can be progressive, as with Alzheimer's, or transient, perhaps as the result of a head injury.

Progressive dementia are most common among the elderly, who may be labeled as "naturally" senile. In no case, though, can a dementia be considered a normal part of the aging process. Most people who reach advanced years do not develop dementia, and the expectation that senility is an inevitable part of the aging process is incorrect.

Causes and Risk Factors of Dementia

Physicians generally recognize two broad categories of dementia

Primary dementias are those like Alzheimer's in which the dementia itself is the major sign of some organic brain disease not directly related to any other organic illness.

Secondary dementias are those caused by, or closely related to, some other recognizable disease - whether AIDS, a chronic subdural hematoma multiple sclerosis, or one of numerous other identifiable mental conditions.

Pseudodementia is another category of dementia that, as the name implies, is not a true dementia but rather a set of symptoms that mimic the condition.

Symptoms of Dementia

All dementias - whether primary or secondary, treatable or untreatable - share a few clinical characteristics in common. Loss of memory and inability to perform routine tasks - such as losing one's way in the neighborhood, difficulties in job performance, language problems - are particularly common.

The most recent memories are lost sooner than older ones, and new memories, perhaps of something that happened minutes earlier, are difficult to retain. For example, a woman might ask her husband when they are scheduled to visit their children. "Saturday," he might reply. Just minutes later, she might ask the identical question. In the early stages of the dementia however, she probably will have no difficulty identifying photos of the children, or even of casual friends, taken 30 years earlier.

In addition, behavioral changes (such as increased aggressiveness), often mild but sometimes dramatic, almost always accompany dementia.

As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to function independently and become increasingly disoriented to time and place. Wandering may become a significant problem.

Grooming and dressing standards deteriorate rapidly, and basic social skills are lost. Patients often dress inappropriately for the season and confuse underwear with outer garments.

Recent memory, retention and attention span deteriorate steadily. Language skills, particularly ability to name objects (anomia) or generate a word list decline until a patient can no longer use full sentences.

Diagnosis of Dementia

The diagnosis of dementia is based upon a good clinical history and an examination to determine the nature of the organic or non-organic cause of mental confusion.

Treatment of Dementia

Dementia caused by intoxication, hyperthyroidism, pernicious anemia, subdural hematoma, benign brain tumors, hydrocephalus, or insulin shock can be reversed or improved by treating the condition.

Alzheimer's disease, Hungtington's disease, Pick's disease, dementia of aging and traumatic injuries to the brain are usually not amenable to treatment.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Dementia

What is the cause of the dementia?

Is the dementia secondary to some other disease?

To what extent is there brain damage?

What treatments are available?

How can we best cope?

What is the prognosis - what can we expect?

Why you should focus on a brain-health diet

Eating well is not only good for your body and overall health, it's also good for keeping your grey matter in good working order.

The average brain weighs around 1.4kg, but uses around 20 percent of the kilojoules a person ingests in a single day. So it is vital for efficient brain function that the bulk of this energy comes from a healthy diet, the UK's Daily Mail reported.

A recent study in the US, conducted by Florida neuroscientist and associate professor Dr Paul Kenny, from the Scripps Research Institute, found the high levels of sugar in junk food triggered a switch in the brain, which made things like chips, biscuits, cakes and chocolate as addictive as drugs like heroin or cocaine. Ninemsn Health reported in October 2009.

This food addiction — as opposed to emotional eating, gluttony or laziness — was attributed to the ever-rising levels of obesity in the Western world. Eating plenty of vegetables, especially a colourful mix of cruciferous and leafy varieties, including broccoli, cauliflower, green lettuce and spinach, is the key to good brain health, AARP.org reported.

Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E and beta carotene, reduce oxidative damage to cells, which is thought to contribute to cognitive decline.

Omega-3 fatty acids, the best source of which is oily fish like tuna, sardines or anchovies, help to counteract free radicals. These free radicals cause oxidative damage to brain cells which helps improve the nerve signal transmission through-out the brain's synapses.

The Daily Mail explains that eating foods that are high in sugar and fat cause surges in the feel-good hormone dopamine, followed by a rapid drop which can lead to feelings of sadness, emptiness and irritation.

Instead of a sensory-overload caused by high levels of dopamine, to ensure a good mood all day long, people should aim to eat slow-release, protein-rich foods — such as almonds, eggs, lean meats, eggs and soybeans.

To ensure good overall, inside-out health — starting with the most important organ, your brain — simply increase your intake of vegetables, avoid high-sugar and fatty foods and eat a moderate amount of slow-release protein-rich foods.

Items of Intrest

Excerise for Seniors

Aging Gracefully

Balance: Each year, hospitals see over 300,000 patients for broken hips due to falling. Balance exercises can help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.
The good news is that the loss of strength, endurance, flexibility and balance aren’t inevitable. The National Institute on Aging believes that "when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn’t happen just because they have aged. More likely it is because they have become inactive."

It's Never to Late to Start Exercising

No matter how old you are, exercise can improve your quality of life and you don’t have to spend a lot of time doing it to see and feel improvements. Like everyone else, seniors need to engage in cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises to stay healthy and maintain as much strength and functionality as possible.

Strength Training for Seniors

Strength training has incredible benefits for everyone, but especially for seniors. Experts believe that "resistance exercise may forestall declines in strength and muscle mass for decades."

Before you get started, it’s essential to get checked out by your doctor. If you have any conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure or heart disease, you’ll need to learn the types of exercises you can and can’t do. Use the following guidelines to set up your program:

• Lift weights for all muscle groups (chest, back, shoulders, arms, abs and legs) at least 2 non-consecutive days each week
• Start with no weights or light weights—you can use dumbbells, machines and/or resistance bands
• Do each exercise for at least 1 set of 10-15 repetitions. Use enough resistance that you can only do the exercise 15 times. If you can do more, you should increase your weights.
• Progress by adding more sets (with rest in between) and/or increasing the weights each week
• Focus on having good form for each exercise
• Be sure to warm up with light exercise before lifting weights

If you’ve never lifted weights before, you may want to work with a personal trainer to learn the proper way to lift. Make sure your trainer has experience in working with seniors! If personal training isn’t an option, you might want to use videos to see proper technique and to get an idea of what a strength training routine looks like. These resources can help you get started:

Cardio Exercise for Seniors

Because endurance can decline over the years, it’s important to engage in some type of aerobic exercise. The National Institute on Aging recommends seniors shoot for 30 minutes of cardio exercise each day. To get started:

• See your doctor first and get clearance for cardio exercise
• Choose an activity you enjoy and something that’s easily accessible such as walking, swimming, biking, gardening, golfing (without the cart), tennis, rowing, etc.
• If you’ve never exercised or it’s been a while, start with 5-10 minutes of cardio 3 times a week and allow your body time to get used to it. Each week, add a few minutes until you can move continuously for 30 or more minutes
• Work at a medium intensity—you should be able to carry on a conversation
• Always warm up with 5 or more minutes of light activity.

Stretch after your workout
You can also check out your local gym or health club to find out what kinds of classes they offer for seniors.

1. See your doctor before you begin any exercise program
2. Begin with a 5-10 minute warm up of light cardio (walking in place, etc.)
3. Hold each stretch for 10-30 seconds and repeat for 1-3 times.
4. Perform these stretches after a workout or after muscles are warm from a hot bath or shower.
5. For best results, combine this workout with regular cardio and a healthy, low-calorie diet.

Hamstring Stretch    
Sit on a bench or on a chair with another chair across from you.  Stretch one leg out, toes up, with the other foot on the floor.  Keep your back straight and abs engaged and bend forward from the hips until you feel a gentle stretch in the back of your leg.   If you've had a hip replacement, check with your doctor before doing this stretch.

Calf Stretch  
Stand with hands on the wall for support in split stance--one leg forward and one leg back.  Press the back heel towards the floor and lean the body forward until you feel a gentle stretch in your calf.  Repeat on the other side.

Quad Stretch  
Do this exercise standing or lying on the floor.  Holding onto a wall or chair for support, bend one knee, bringing the foot up behind you towards your backside.  Grab onto the foot or ankle with your hand and point the knee towards the floor to feel a stretch down the front of your thigh.  Repeat on the other side. 

Back Stretch  
Clasp your hands together in front of you and round your back towards the floor, pressing your arms away from your body to feel a stretch in your upper back

Torso Stretch 
Sitting or standing, clasp your hands straight up overhead, palms facing the ceiling.  Gently lower to the right side until you feel a stretch down your left side.  Switch sides and repeat.

Triceps Stretch 
Bend the left elbow behind your head and use the right hand to gently pull the left elbow in further until you feel a stretch in the back of your arm.  Switch sides and repeat.

Avoiding Osteoporosis - Good Health for your Bones:

Osteoporosis affect both men and women and the most common cause is age. It is a condition that causes a person's bones to become thin and weak and is caused by a lack of calcium.
In order to prevent Osteoporosis, the most obvious addition to your diet is calicium whether this is via more calicium rich foods such as low fat dairy, broccoli, cauliflower, salmon, tofu and leafy green vegetables or by taking supplement. Other preventative actions are to excerise regularly, stop drinking coffee and cola and to stop smoking. Always see your doctor prior to starting excerise or taking a supplement.

Potato and bacon bake

Jokes

Tickets Please!
Three engineers and three accountants are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three accountants each buy tickets and watch as the three engineers buy only a single ticket. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. They all board the train. The accountants take their respective seats but all three engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The accountants saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea. So after the conference, the accountants decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. When they board the train the three accountants cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the accountants are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, Ticket, please

Consumer Complaints

North East Community Care is committed to ensuring that all who attend or who receive any services from North East Community Care enjoys the highest standard of quality service. We recognise that clients, carers, volunteers and staff have the right to access fair and equitable procedures for dealing with complaints or grievances. Any complaints about the service or access to it will be dealt with fairly, promptly, confidentially and without retribution.

Whenever required the complainant's choice of advocate will be involved. We will insure that our Complaints Policy is available to all and that the service promotes and practices a policy for dealing with and monitoring complaints. Clients, who request assistance in conflict with an older person or a younger person with a disability and their Carer, will be provided assistance to an appropriate advocacy service.

Procedures

The person making the complaint should complete a "Consumer Complaint Form" (staff and advocates are encouraged to assist in this process where requested by the client/Carer) and forward it to the Service Manager. If the complaint is handed to a staff member, it is the staff members’ responsibility to ensure the complaint is accurately and promptly relayed to the Service Manager within 48 hours. (A Consumer Complaint Form and an Advocacy Service brochure are included in the Client Orientation material).

The Service Manager will respond promptly and fairly to all complaints received by clients, carers, advocates, volunteers and staff.

The complaint will be investigated and the complainant contacted again when such investigations are complete. A course of action or remedy will be outlined to the complainant or advocate. Upon agreement with the parties involved, the course of action or remedy will be implemented.

To complete the process, the Service Manager and complainant sign the Consumer Complaint Form advising that the complaint has been dealt with appropriately.

Should the complainant not be satisfied during any stage of the above process, then he/she should be advised that the matter may be referred to the Advisory Committee and/or the Director, Community Support Services (Centacare) or Advocacy Service.

All formal complaints will be treated with respect for the consumer's right to privacy and confidentiality.

The care given to a client or Carer will not be adversely affected as a result of making a complaint.

        Above all do not be afraid to inform us if you have a complaint or a suggestion for how we can do something better or be more assistance to you.