There is a Royal Commission into Aged Care but what are the positives coming?

The Royal Commission into Aged Care started on the 18th of January and already we have heard many difficult stories. Only in the early stages, the commission has learnt a lot from the public submissions and witness appearances.

While this is a process that had to happen, there is also a lot to celebrate in the aged care sector.

Today in the Karista blog we look at some of the early learnings from the Royal Commission and what interesting and exciting innovations are to come.

What have we learnt at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety so far?

• The elderly are afraid of entering into care and would much prefer to stay home, they are no longer willing to put up with the care their parents received

• The Aged Care sector is in a financial crisis - there is at least a 12 month wait for a high level Home Care Package (HCP)

• There is an overuse of chemical restraints. When confronted with a difficult patient, support staff are turning first to psychotropic drugs, sedation or restricted movement

• Dementia is considered the new chronic condition of the 21st Century. Dementia Australia gave evidence saying about 436,000 Australians are living with dementia today. It is expected by 2050, that number will rise to 1.1 million

• The aged care workforce is underpaid and under-resourced,. To keep up with the ageing Australian population, the workforce will need to triple by 2050

• Witnesses Clive and Barbara Springs supported the idea of a national database for aged care workers. Currently, there is no database of support staff which makes it difficult for employers to know if potential new hires have had complaints or recorded poor behaviour in the past

• The Food. For those of us who have or had loved ones in care, we know the food can often leave a lot to be desired. Poor quality food can leave residents malnourished and is being reviewed by the commission

Consumer Directed Care, Your Life - Your Choice

The commission and the Australian Government recognise that more Australians want to live at home as they age. The Government’s policy of consumer directed care and the Home Care Package (HCP) program is a step towards meeting this need. Consumer Directed care means the consumer holds the power, the money and they make their own decisions about what care they want, how that care is provided and who provides the care.

Karista is dedicated to making consumer directed care a reality. We show you what is available in your area and provide information to help you compare and choose your ideal provider.

Other Exciting Innovations

There are many clever people working around Australia and the world to find better solutions to the current status quo. There is a new message being spread, it is no longer about an expectation of boredom but of purposeful activity. Karista has done some research and here are our picks for interesting innovations in aged care:

• The Global Centre for Modern Ageing. Developed in 2018 by the South Australian Government after the closure of the motor industry, this center aims to help business and individuals to build and develop services and products with the specific intent of assisting the elderly to live and age well. The Global Centre for Modern Ageing also includes, LifeLab. LifeLab is a brand new facility allowing business, older people and researchers to develop new products and innovations.

• Australia’s first ‘Dementia Village’ Korongee is being built in Tasmania. Based on the De Hogeweyk Village in the Netherlands . The Dutch model gives residents an opportunity to live in an adapted village with its own supermarket, cafe, beauty salon, their own currency and much more while being supported by care staff

• The University of Wollongong is developing a-state-of-the-art aged care facility as a part of their innovation campus. Modeled on the Mayo Clinic in the US and the best of Scandinavian aged care designs, the Wollongong Center will allow researchers and residents to be integrated for the first time. The 700 hectare site will include an aged care and senior living village, 200 independent living homes and community health clinic. 650 students enrolled in courses in health and the ageing will be available to interact with the elderly community, a childcare center is also planned. The UOW envisages opportunities for the young and old alike to interact and provide mentor-ship and volunteer opportunities. Residents will also have full access to the university campus.

• Sleeptite. Developed by RMIT University, Canadian smart clothing company Hexoskin and mattress manufacturer Sleepeezee; together they have combined to create a non-invasive monitoring system set in silicone fabric which is able to monitor a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure and recognise if they have fallen from bed.

• PainChek, is a facial recognition software program that can detect pain in the elderly including people living with dementia, which after four years of trials and a name change is being rolled out nationally by Dementia Care Australia.

•  Being trialed in 50 homes, Billy is a system that gives the family or care manager a live data feed. With no cameras, nothing to wear or press, Billy works using discreetly placed sensors that monitor everything from movement to temperature and behaviour patterns which then creates a tool for prevention or intervention before incidents escalate into emergencies.

Sources: The Guardian Australia, Business Insider Australia, SBS News, Aged Care Guide, The ABC, University of Wollongong, The Global Centre for Modern Ageing, Sleeptite, PainChek, Billy

Cooking for the Homeless: Aged Care Residents using skills to help others

ABC aired a report last night (15/8/18) on 7:30 with Leigh Sales - about the residents of Blue Mountains residential facility, Uniting Springwood, who are helping to prepare meals for their local homeless community. Some of the residents also volunteer to serve meals.

An initiative of Uniting Springwood and Mama Lana's Community Foundation, this project has given the residents a renewed purpose and welcome feelings of achievement and giving. They really enjoyed the opportunity to be the givers of care rather than the ones always receiving care. The homeless community are delighted to be eating a home cooked meal with the opportunity to meet and thank those involved.

This program shows that everybody has something to contribute, especially our elderly. The residents of Uniting Springwood, like a lot of our elderly in residential care, have decades of cooking experience and other skills which are underutilised.  

To see more of this heartwarming story, click the link below.

Source: ABC 7:30

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/the-aged-care-residents-cooking-for-the-homeless/10124714

National Diabetes Week

This week marks National Diabetes week, did you know that Diabetes is one of the 8 major chronic diseases Australians live with?  A chronic disease is acknowledged as a long lasting condition with persistent effects and social and economic consequences.

If you are living with diabetes and need help at home please visit Karista to find services in your local area.

Facts About Diabetes

• 280 People develop Diabetes every day - that's one every five minutes
• Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes which includes all types of diagnosed diabetes and a silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes
• For every person diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a carer or family member who also lives with Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

When you have diabetes, your body can't maintain healthy levels of glucose (a form of sugar) in the blood.  For our bodies to work properly we need to convert glucose from food into energy. A hormone called insulin is essential for the conversion of glucose into energy. In people with diabetes, insulin is no longer produced in sufficient amounts. When people with diabetes eat glucose, which is in foods such as breads, cereals, fruit and starchy vegetables, legumes, milk, yoghurt and sweets, it can’t be converted into energy.

Instead of being turned into energy the glucose stays in the blood resulting in high blood glucose levels. After eating, the glucose is carried around your body by your blood; blood glucose level is called glycaemia. Blood glucose levels can be monitored and managed through self care and treatment.

Different Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition in which the immune system is activated to destroy the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin.  We don't know why this happens, Type 1 diabetes is not linked to lifestyle factors.  There is no cure and it cannot be prevented.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin and or gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas.  We do not know what causes Type 2 diabetes but do know that lifestyle, genetics and family are related risk factors.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (sometimes referred to as GDM) is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Most women will no longer have diabetes after the baby is born. 

Gestational diabetes is the fastest growing type of diabetes in Australia, affecting thousands of pregnant women. Between 12% and 14% of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes  usually occurring around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. All pregnant women should be tested for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy (except those women who already have diabetes). 

Source: Diabetes Australia and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Where can I get help?

If you are concerned that you or someone you care for may develop Diabetes, please see your GP for a check up.

If you're interested in reading more about the three main types of diabetes, a good place to start is Diabetes Australia website, or the Baker Institute 

Karista if you are looking for support and services in your local area.

Home Care Packages (HCP) Explained

Have you or your loved ones had trouble navigating what a Home Care Package (HCP) is? 

Freedom Aged Care has created an easy guide to help you understand how to apply, what is included and the difference between other aged care packages.

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Some useful links for our young ones

It can be difficult to talk to children or young adults who are finding it hard to articulate their needs. Below are some easy to access online resources to help. Considering our young ones are so computer savvy sending them to links to assist in the process, or it could be something you access yourself to assist in the discussion. See below - some great links:

Bullying at work - WorkSafe Victoria - click here

Victoria Legal Aid - Workplace Bullying - click here

Kids Helpline – click here

Lifeline – click here

Beyond Blue - click here

Youth beyond Blue – click here

Headspace - click here

Youth Off the Streets - click here

Department of Health Victoria - click here

StreetSmart Australia - click here

Homelessness Australia - click here

Department of Health and Ageing - Mental Health - click here

Asperger Syndrome and Adults - Better Health Victoria - click here

Autism Victoria - click here

Autism Help – click here