When does OLD age start? Now that’s a loaded question…

 

Ask anyone over 60 what “old” means to them, and it’s usually at least 10 years more than their age.  Many people today simply don’t consider themselves “old” (and please DON’T refer to anyone as such without total consent!)   Age is really just numbers and as the longevity revolution marches onward, the lines become very blurred.

Thanks to a growing  universal access to clean water, sanitation, waste removal, electricity, refrigerators and vaccinations, and continued improvement in health care, demographers predict longevity will keep lengthening in the decades to come.

The fastest growing segment of the population are those 85+, which from some accounts might consider this segment of the population our “oldest of old”.  Does that mean our “very old” are used up and residing in nursing care?  If you haven’t observed an airport lately see how many of these “oldest of olds” are still traveling the world, some on adventure vacations!

Demographers have their work cut out for them in the years ahead.  While we can be celebrating the possibility of extended life, this also leaves many who are wondering how we will meet the challenges of a fast aging society.

In the 1950s, less than 10 percent of the country was older than 65. That share will double to 20 percent by 2050. The longevity revolution will touch global economic and political life,  the size of the labor force, the number and kinds of jobs the economy will require, and the productivity of the workforce.  In short, aging affects everything,

How we view older people in our society has everything to do with how healthy we are as a nation.  We are truly all connected, and as the lines of aging blur faster each day, it will be a matter of how we fare in a society where their no longer lines drawn in the sand as to when someone is “old”.

Personally,  I don’t intend to get old.  We’ll see how that works out –  ask me in 30 years…and not a day before!

Pam Brandon is President/Founder or AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a passionate advocate for older adults and those that serve them.

www.AGEucate.com

 

 

 

 

 

The Remarkable Australian Men’s Shed Association

Pam Brandon introduces the Indooroopilly Men’s Shed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

On my recent travels to the beautiful country of Australia, one of the highlights of my trip was my visit to the Indooroopilly Men’s Shed,  one of many such sheds throughout the country.

The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) is the peak body supporting almost 1000 Men’s Sheds and is recognized as one of Australia’s largest male based community development organizations.

Founded in 2007, AMSA is funded by the Federal Department of Health to provide practical support to Men’s Sheds and deliver a wide range of services. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of members and reduce the number of men who are at risk from preventable health issues that may emanate from isolation.

Tour the Indooroopilly Men’s Shed with host David Silcox

Through collaboration and strategic partnerships with national, state, territory and health related community services such as beyondblue, Heart Foundation, Department of Veteran Affairs, Cancer Council, AMSA has developed a range of resources and delivered a variety of national initiatives such as “Spanner in the Works?”, a men’s health project.

Tour of the Indooroopilly Men’s Shed with host David SilcoxTheir tagline reads “Shoulder to Shoulder”.   Research points to the fact that men communicate with others side-to-side, while women are more inclined to communicate face to face.

Sociologist Harry Brod surmises that the side-by-side shoulder orientation is a way for men to seek intimacy. “Numerous studies have established that men are more likely to define emotional closeness as working or playing side-by-side, while women often view it as talking face-to-face. Men, for example, derive intimacy from playing and watching sports.”

Through the activities and programs offered at the Men’s Shed, it promotes healthy aging, reduces risk of depression, isolation and chronic illness that are often associated with aging adults, especially men.

The objectives of the Indooroopilly Men’s Shed in Queensland include:

  • Advance the health and well-being of members.
  • Promote men’s health programs.
  • Identify and nurture innovative ideas and activities for men.
  • Encourage men with widely varying skills.
  • Pursue hobbies, pastimes and interests.
  • Learn new skills and practice and pass on old skills.
  • Learn about their own and other men’s health and well-being.
  • By their efforts contribute to their families, their friends, the Sed and the wider community.
  • Mentor younger men.
  • Promote members’ empathy for fellow men.
  • Enhance personal and group self-esteem and pride in accomplishments.
  • Foster members’ interest in and assistance to the local community.

For more information visit www.mensshed.org

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a passionate advocate for older adults and those that serve them.

www.AGEucate.com

Award Wages for Aged Care Workers in Australia

Having just returned from Australia,  I’ll be devoting several upcoming blogs to my research and fact finding with how Australia is advancing in aging and dementia care, as well as dementia and age friendly best practices.  I found their award wages for aged care workers to be one significant difference from the US and worthy of discussion.

Award wages and workplace rights and responsibilities are managed by the Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman. An employee’s minimum pay rate can come from an award, enterprise agreement, other registered agreement, or the national minimum wage.

Employees must be paid for all the hours they work including the time they spend in training, team meetings, opening and closing the business, and working unreasonable trial (what is equivalent to overtime in US) shifts.

An entry-level Aged Care Worker with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of AU$44,000.  An Aged Care Worker with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of AU$46,000.  An experienced Aged Care Worker which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of AU$46,000.  An Aged Care Worker with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of AU$48,000.

Although the healthcare and aged care systems differ from the US, I found that we are all experiencing the same challenges of a rapidly growing aging population.   Workforce shortages, rising costs and changing policies are certainly a global concern.

Employee turnover in Australia is less significant than the US.   While this is  likely due to higher wages,  they also have in place required  training for all care workers, of which dementia care is included.

In late 2016 Dementia Training Australia rolled out Dementia Essentials which is delivered by Alzheimer’s Australia nationally.

The three-day course provides attendees with extensive knowledge of dementia, as well as focusing on person-centred practice, communication strategies, developing appropriate activities, and responding to unmet needs.

AGE-u-cate’s Dementia Live™️ and Compassionate Touch® programs have been overwhelmingly received in Australia and we are excited to be working with providers from across the country in expanding our presence in the coming year.

I learned that while we differ in how our “systems” work we all want to deliver high quality care to our aging populations.  We all have challenges and are learning and growing from each other.

Next blog I’ll be talking about Australia’s amazing Men’s Shed program, so stay tuned!

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a passionate advocate for older adults and those that serve them.

www.AGEucate.com

Please Don’t Forget the Hot Fudge Sundae… and other Dining Tips

As my mother’s Parkinson’s Disease progressed,  it was very apparent that food and the mealtime experience became more important to her.  So much so, that I remember saying “Mom’s still finds joy in yummy food”.  That said, her “yummy” was not always the healthiest, but we wanted her to be happy.  We knew that healthy foods were important, but probably not as important  as the joy of witnessing her with excitement dig in to a chocolate fudge sundae with extra whipped cream.  Now THAT was a  quality dining experience!

At some point, certain foods either don’t appeal to older adults due to medications, loss of taste sensation or because it becomes too hard to chew and swallow.   Finding the balance between “healthy” and “joy” hits home as we see our loved ones world get smaller and they have less to look forward to on a daily basis.  The dining experience to us was wherever it happened to take place.  That might be at the dining table,  sitting up in bed, or relaxing on the patio.   As a family we expected that experience to include:

  • Food that was visually appealing – a colorful mix and variety on the plate.  Too much food turned her off, and she would simply push it away.  So less was always better.  If she wanted more she would ask for it
  • A relaxing environment with minimal chatter and over-stimulating noises, especially TV
  • One or two people to engage with while eating.  Much more than that and it became to distracting and we noticed she would eat less
  • Foods that were easy to pick up with fork and spoon, easy to chew and swallow.  That meant small pieces, fish instead of meat, pasta that could be picked up easily with a fork (spaghetti noodles were a disaster!), and food within easy reach
  • Condiments and spices nearby that she could ask for you embellish her food and someone to help her with this
  • Never EVER forget the dessert

Whether your loved one is living at home or in a community based setting, the environment in which they are eating , the details of how the food is presented and ease of eating as independently as possible is very important.  It can be one of their few joys in life, so pay attention to the the little things, because they often so important.  Instead of looking at it as a chore, what a difference it would make if it were viewed as an experience.

And please don’t forget the hot fudge sundae…

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a  passionate advocate for older adults and their caregivers.  

www.AGEucate.com

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