News briefs
News in brief from the ageing agenda, featuring bites of information about recent research, technology, conference and government movements.
Compiled by Yasmin Noone
- Older men can lower their risk of dementia by using a computer, a new study shows
- The Joanna Briggs Foundation and Sydney Nursing School will run a special ‘knowledge transforms’ seminar on ageing
- Businesses are being encouraged to get involved in the upcoming National Recycling Week
- SA aged care provider, Helping Hand, has launched a new media campaign to inform the community about what ‘aged care’ means today.
- Ageing agenda experts are set to discuss how research put into practice can make a difference on the NSW south coast
Having access to a personal computer can lower an older male’s risk of cognitive decline and dementia by up to 40 per cent, according to researchers at the University of Western Australia.
The eight-year university study looked at the health of 5,000 Perth men aged between 65 years and 85. The researchers found the risk of dementia was about 30-to-40 per cent lower among older computer users in the group than non-users and that their findings could not be attributed to age, education, social isolation, depression, overall health or cognitive impairment.
Computer-user participants were also younger than non-users, had completed at least high school, had a more active social network and were less likely to show evidence of depression or poor physical health.
Research director at the UWA-affiliate, the Centre for Health and Ageing, Winthrop Professor Osvaldo Almeida and his colleagues concluded that older people should be encouraged to embrace computer technology as long as they understand the dangers of prolonged physical inactivity and the many advantages of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
The study’s results were recently published in the journal PLoSOne,
The research is part of Australia’s longest-running longitudinal study of men’s health and ageing. It has been following a group of more than 19,000 men since 1996.
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There’s only one week left before registrations close for the ‘Knowledge Transforms’ seminar on ageing, happening on Thursday 4 October.
Presented by the Joanna Briggs Foundation and Sydney Nursing School, the 6pm seminar will discuss the latest research on the ageing brain and ask how this evidence can be used to make a difference to an ageing population and workforce.
Guest speakers include Susan Ryan AO, Commissioner for Age Discrimination; Professor Tony Broe AM, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA); Dr Stuart Smith, NeuRA; and Professor Hal Kendig, Centre of Excellence in Population.
Tickets for the event, happenign at the Sydney Nursing School in Camperdown, costs $50. Drinks and snacks will be served on arrival.
To book, email Kym Elson at kym.elson@adelaide.edu.au by Thursday 20 September. W: http://knowledgetransformsageing.eventbrite.com
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Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week 2012 (NRW) will run from November 12-18.
During the week, businesses and individuals will be encouraged to learn more about what items can be recycled and where recycled materials can be deposited.
NRW will also feature a Friday File Fling event on November 16th, which will focus on recycling in the workplace and provide staff with a good excuse to clean out their offices.
Planet Ark has also recently launched Business Recycling Checklist – available on BusinessRecycling.com.au- which provides a set of questions for businesses to ask a potential recycling service.
For more details about recycling, call Planet Ark’s Recycling Hotline, 1300 733 712. This service is free and available from Monday-to-Friday, all year around. Or visit the National Recycling Week website for details about the NRW program of events and activities.
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South Australian not-for-profit aged care provider, Helping Hand, has launched a new campaign arguing that ‘new aged care’ is no oxymoron.
Helping Hand has used the media to challenge the public’s current perception of aged care and highlight the diversity of contemporary aged care services.
“Service choices have changed dramatically in the past few years, but the community is often not aware of the range of possibilities – unfortunately we don’t need to look beyond the sector to understand why,” said Helping Hand CEO, Ian Hardy.
Mr Hardy said the new aged care campaign challenges the dated stereotypical image of what aged care is and “prompts the question – what is different about aged care services today?”
The campaign features a television commercial which details a ‘less-typical’ view of aged care. The ad follows a Helping Hand client Peter, who has experienced social isolation and follows his journey through the organisation’s community program.
“It reminds people that you don’t need to be ready for a nursing home to think about aged care services,” Mr Hardy said.
The television commercial can be viewed on the Helping Hand website at www.helpinghand.org.au/services
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The upcoming Ageing in the Illawarra: How research is making a difference forum will take place on Friday 19 October at the IC Central Building, Innovation Campus, in the NSW south coast suburb of Fairy Meadow.
Running from 9.30am to 3.00pm, the AAG/ IRT forum will target those who work in the field of ageing and aged care, as well as to older people.
It will aim to explore how research can contribute to better lives for Australia’s older people, now and in the future.
There will be panel discussions on how older people can be ac¬tively involved in research, not only as subjects but in shaping how it is carried out and applied; presentations on the latest research findings are in brain science; and information about how the Illawarra is contributing to building knowledge about ageing.
To register interest or enquire about attending, email janet.gilchrist@sydney.edu.au
For more details, visit http://www.aag.asn.au/filelib/N190919_-_Final_120906.pdf
