Prestige Inhome Care

Movie Night Success

Congratulations to all those who helped make our annual movie night a roaring success. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces (and some new ones) there on the night. The movie was very appropriate and everyone seemed to have a fantastic time. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

How Elderly Disabled People Can Maintain Their Independence

In this inspirational excerpt from the documentary Dominick and Margaret, two older people with disabilities talk about how they have adjusted to disability in later life, and how having a positive attitude helps them maintain their independence.

Dominick Ciamarra

First, Dominick Ciamarra describes how he felt following the amputation of both his legs: ‘I know I won’t be able to walk for the rest of my days.’ But, he says, ‘it’s no use feeling sorry for yourself, because that’s the worse thing you can do.’

Once he had accepted his condition, he made a decision to maintain his independence. We see him working out, lifting dumbbells to keep the strength in his arms, which are so much more important without the use of his legs. Being around people also helps keep Dominick young.

Margaret McCullough

The second person featured is Margaret McCullough, who also lost both her legs. Margaret has an unflinchingly optimistic take on her situation.

‘I’m just very thankful that I’m able to do what I can do, and I know that there’s a lot of other people who could do just as much as I do if they would really try,’ Margaret says. ‘But you have to try, and work hard, because if you don’t try, you’ll never make it.’

Both of these inspiring people have maintained their independence through persistence and the right aged care, to enable them to adapt to their lifestyles to their new circumstances. Prestige Inhome Care specialises in-home care services to allow the elderly to make the most of later life at home. Call 1300 669 387 for more information.

Men's Sheds: Fending off the Blues

This brief news video profiles one of the great successes in elderly health and wellbeing in recent years: the men’s shed movement.

Keeping Healthy by Staying Social

One in six Australian men are said to suffer from depression at any given time, and older, retired men are particularly at risk. Isolation, the loss of routine following retirement and for some the loss of a partner can all take their toll. The men’s shed movement is designed to help these men get out of the house, offers social interaction, and aims to provide new hands-on skills in a men-only shed-like environment.

The sheds are ‘just to get you out of the house,’ says Michael Hannigan, a member of the Canterbury Men’s Shed in Sydney, as he paints a wooden toy, ‘otherwise I’d just be sitting at home looking at the four walls, and you get sick of it after a while.’

Following the death of his wife to cancer, Bill Burton was doing it tough. The local men’s shed has been a ‘life saver’, he says. ‘If you can imagine sitting on your own in a house, after you’ve been married for 50 years, and suddenly you’re on your own, then this was a great thing to get me out, it was a motivation, and my children and my grandchildren have really benefited from the skills I’ve picked up.’

Staying engaged with your community through a program such as a men’s shed, and in-home care services from Prestige Inhome Care, can help you live your retirement years to the full. Contact Prestige Inhome Care on 1300 669 387 to find out more.

How to Recognise Signs of Depression in Elderly Loved Ones

Many people suffer from depression as they age. The deaths of loved ones, fears of one’s own passing, isolation and the gradual deterioration of health and physical vitality can all take their toll. Here are a some signs of depression to look out for, both in yourself and in other elderly family members or friends. In some cases the easiest way to solve elderly depression is through the help of an in-home aged care worker.

The most obvious sign of depression is an overt sadness. While some melancholy reflectiveness late in life is normal, watch for this turning into a fixation on death, expressions of hopelessness or helplessness, anxiety or irritability.

Alternatively, depression can appear as a withdrawal of interest or engagement in a wide range of things. This withdrawal can be from social activities, resulting in a self-enforced isolation. It can also appear as a loss of interest in activities such as hobbies or pastimes. Another such withdrawal is loss of appetite or interest in food, which can result in weight loss.

Sleep disturbance can be another sign of depression. This can present as fatigue or sleepiness in the daytime. Unexplained headaches or increased aches and pains are also common. If you experience or witness any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor, encourage your loved ones to speak to theirs, or seek help from a reputable mental health service.

A range of social interactions and physical activities are crucial for staying healthy well into later life. Prestige Inhome Care provides socialisation and elderly companionship services such as escorting to outings and special events, indoor and outdoor activities, and assistance with exercise. Contact Prestige Inhome Care on 1300 669 387 to find out how they can help you and your elderly loved ones live life to the fullest.

The Importance of Infection Control for In-home Patients

The increasing use of in-home care as part of general aged care has resulted in an immeasurable improvement in overall patient wellbeing. Being cared for in one’s own home, surrounded by familiar comforts, rather than in a clinical hospital environment, is a welcome modern innovation. But it also comes with certain challenges. One of the most significant of these is maintaining effective infection control practices in a non-sterile home environment.

Reducing the Risk of Infections at Home

Infection control in the hospital environment is maintained by rigorously enforced hand washing and gowning practices. These are designed to prevent the transfer of infectious bacteria from one room to another, and from one patient to another.

In the home, where pets, children, gardening, and the patients’ own movements around the house make such sterility impossible, controlling infections is more difficult. This is of increasing concern at a time when the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections is on the rise.

There are a number of practices by which patients can help reduce their risk of a potentially dangerous infection. These include ensuring that their home care workers come from a high-quality, reputable agency that will enforce strict hygiene requirements, by maintaining their own hand washing and hygiene regimes as far as they are able to, by alerting their carers immediately if they suspect an infection or illness, and by deliberately isolating themselves from others, such as children, who are known to have an infection.

Prestige Inhome Care provides in-home care services by registered nurses and care professionals to help you maintain a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle in your own home well into old age. Call 1300 669 387 to find out more.