Attitudes to dementia – Findings from the 2015 British Social Attitudes survey
Source: British Social Attitudes
Just 2% of people in Britain can identify all the health and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing dementia.
28% of the British public is unable to correctly identify any potentially modifiable risk factor for developing dementia, according to the findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey commissioned by Public Health England.
The survey, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, asked the public if they could identify the following risk factors: heavy drinking, smoking, high blood pressure, depression and diabetes as well as the protective factor of taking regular exercise.
read moreSmallest worthwhile effect of exercise programs to prevent falls among older people: Estimates from benefit–harm trade-off and discrete choice methods
Source: Oxford Journals
In this study, the authors estimate the smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) of exercise programmes designed to prevent falls among older people and compare estimates derived by two methodological approaches.
read moreKeeping older people active discussion paper
Source: beehive.govt.nz
Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the release of a discussion document that focuses on supporting older people to stay active.
“If we want New Zealanders to remain active in their later years we have to ensure we’re offering them the right opportunities,” says Dr Coleman.
“Being physically active has many benefits for older people including enhanced social integration, reduced health and social care costs, prevention of injury such as falls, and also improved productivity.
read moreDecline in falls and broken hips a success story for New Zealand health care
Source: Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand
The Health Quality & Safety Commission is celebrating the success of New Zealand public hospitals in reducing the number of in-hospital falls that result in a broken hip. New Zealand appears to be the first country to achieve this on a national scale.
A paper published in the New Zealand Medical Journal today highlights a sector-wide commitment to preventing harm and in reducing the number of falls resulting in serious harm in New Zealand.
read more$3.25m in new projects for Ageing Well in Maori and Pacific Peoples
Source: Otago University
New funding of $3.25 million for four innovative research projects to be undertaken as part of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge (NSC) was announced last year by Acting Chair of the Challenge, Dr Di McCarthy CRSNZ CNZM.
In recognition of the specific challenges and opportunities faced by Māori and Pacific Peoples to age well, the focus of this Ageing Well NSC 2016 Contestable Funding Round was research that investigated aspects of ageing that are prevalent for these groups of people.
read moreAuckland Council Seniors Advisory Panel – Positions Now Open
Auckland Council is now offering a rare opportunity for passionate and motivated Aucklanders to play a key role in influencing council policies, plans and initiatives.
They are looking for passionate community people with a good understanding of plans, policies and strategies to offer your community’s views to the council on a broad range of issues.
Positions on the Seniors Advisory Panel are now open and you can find out more via the link below:
www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/advisorypanels
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Community-based organisations (OPAs)
Source: HelpAge International
Community based organisations of older people are found throughout South East Asia. These are commonly called older people’s associations (OPAs) however may go by other names in different countries, for example intergenerational self-help groups in Vietnam, and older people’s organisations in the Philippines.
Older people’s associations aim to improve the living conditions for older people and for developing their communities. OPAs utilise the unique resources and skills older people have, to provide effective social support, to facilitate activities and deliver services.
They provide a valuable social protection mechanism which complements existing mechanism to improve the lives of older people.
read moreMaking a Difference in Dementia: Nursing Vision and Strategy
Source: Department of Health (UK)
The Making a Difference in Dementia: Nursing Vision and Strategy, published in March 2013, set out our vision of how nurses could maximise their unique contribution to high quality, compassionate care and support for people with dementia and their carers/families.
read moreWorld Alzheimer Report 2016: Improving healthcare for people living with dementia
Source: Alzheimer’s Disease International
This World Alzheimer Report 2016 reviews the state of healthcare for dementia around the world, and recommends ways that it can be improved. There is a clear and urgent need to improve the coverage of healthcare around the world, for people living with dementia now and those who will be in the future.
read moreCreating Age-Friendly Cities
Source: Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (UK)
By 2050, 89% of the UK’s population will live in cities and 24% will be aged over 65.1,2,3 There is increasing recognition that cities should aim to meet the needs of older people and support them to live actively and participate fully in their communities. This POSTnote examines how housing, outdoor spaces and transport can be made more age-friendly. It also highlights challenges for designing and delivering agefriendly cities
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