Hard to talk about?

In New Zealand hospice staff and their associated palliative care and volunteer teams are skilled at helping you manage your end of life care. Hospice often provide inpatient services for respite, symptom and pain management, or support if their care cannot be provided elsewhere. At the end of life, some...

End of life care is an important service in New Zealand. Reaching out early on for help allows care specialists to better understand your needs and respond suitably. When we or someone close to us is dying, we want to know this can be done peacefully, comfortably and with dignity....

As we age, the topic of death becomes more prevalent in our lives. We witness our friends and family members pass away, and we become more aware of our own mortality. While it may be a difficult topic to discuss, it's important to understand what it means to have a...

Palliative care is a specialist type of care that focuses on the person and their support networks. It takes a holistic approach, incorporating not just medical and nursing care but psychological, social and spiritual components too. Its aim is to provide comfort and dignity to people and their loved ones...

You may have had concerns about your relative for some time. Or this situation you’re now facing may be totally unexpected. When the recommendation for residential care is made you may have mixed feelings. Perhaps you worry that you or the health professionals are being too hasty, or you feel...

Moving into a care home requires a lot of major lifestyle adjustments. While everyone deals with change differently family members may be able to utilise the suggestions below to assist with this adjustment process. All mayor changes we make in life have some positive aspects and some less so. Remember...

This is a question we often hear, and it comes in various guises. Should your relative move out of their rural area and come into town, or should they move from where they are, to be closer to you? Often the short answer is that its best to stay where...

It’s important to understand, in the first instance, that some people are happy to live the way they do. They may not have lived this way in the past, however some are happy to make a trade off with the standard of living they have now, with their ability to...

Moving into a care home can have a negative effect on some people. Providing a listening ear, being understanding and empathetic, encouraging her to make small decisions, giving her time to adjust, and having a radar that is alert to issues that need to be addressed, will go a long...

A recent assessment shows that my relative who I care for now needs to go to a dementia care home. What about me? What do I need to do? As you are the carer it is likely you will have been aware of the changes for your relative over time....

In the past, a dementia diagnosis has been seen as a fast track into a care home; today, there are new research studies and innovations to support those living with dementia, and hopefully bring us a few steps closer to a cure. Research into dementia has come a long way....

How can I help people with dementia? I’ve got several friends who have dementia and in the the main they’re living quite well at home with their partners. I’d like to be able to be a bit more supportive. What do I need to know? The first thing to know,...

While dementia is not a normal part of ageing, more than 70,000 people in New Zealand live with the condition. If you or someone you care about is worried about dementia, help is at hand. We all want to live our lives well for as long as we can. That...

Visiting can be a stressful time especially if you do not understand the condition so it is useful to find out more before visiting. Dementia NZ and Alzheimers New Zealand are the main support organisations in New Zealand. Useful resources can be found at both. A supportive dementia care facility...

As we get older, we may start feeling like we’re not as mentally sharp as we were 10 – or even 5 – years ago. While this can be frustrating, it’s unfortunately a normal part of ageing. In fact, we all experience changes to brain functionality as early as our...

The internet can tap into our fears about developing dementia mate wareware (mate wareware is the term Maori are familiar with) but there is better news out there these days. In some parts of the world there has even been a decline in the rate of the condition. While there’s...

Losing a loved one is an undeniably tough thing to go through. Unfortunately, all of us at some point in our lives will go through a significant loss or other traumatic event. As Dr Lucy Hone, codirector at the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, eloquently puts it: adversity...

Death is a difficult subject to talk about for many people and for some cultures a taboo subject so we understand that you may come to this subject with mixed feelings. Hospice NZ have produced some videos that give you a glimpse into the subject. You can hear from those...

No, it’s not a normal part of ageing but it’s a common experience of ageing. Let us explain some more. Western tradition has tended to see our physical health as being separate to anything else in our lives. Increasingly though, we are all becoming aware that our physical, mental, emotional,...

It’s natural to look back over life and reflect. While our minds want to settle on more positive thoughts, it is all too easy to think about the things we have lost, done or not done, and things we now regret. Feeling lonely at these times is normal but dwelling...

If someone has talked to you and you or they are concerned about their emotional or mental wellbeing, take the situation seriously and advise the person to seek professional assistance. Offer to take them or accompany them to their first appointment. Most older people will talk to a doctor about...

Everyone experiences grief differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel. While it can feel overwhelming at times, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Grief is often associated with losing a loved one (which is an incredibly tough thing to experience) yet loss can...

What is elder abuse? I'm worried about what's going on at my friend's place. What can be done? We know it’s hard to ask for help, regardless of whether you’re the person being treated in this way, the person behaving in this way or someone who is concerned about a...

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) happens each year on June 15th. It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/127 , December 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who...

Making friends and building social connections is possible at any age. There is a common myth people have more difficulty making friends as they age. However, this is not necessarily the case, and that older adults are just as capable of making new friends as younger people. In fact, a...

Ageing can come with it’s fair share of ups and downs. It’s always good to have family and friends around to assist you with thinking things through or helping to make important decisions – whether it’s where to live, financial or legal matters, or a choice about your health or...

It’s sad how often older people say they don’t want to be a burden or that they feel lonely or isolated. Often the person thinks there is little they can do about this. They may have built defensive walls around themselves or retreated from social settings so as not to...

Families generally have the best of intentions when it comes to where you live – they want to be nearer to you so they can visit more regularly or be closer whenever you need help. However, what is best for your family may not be the best thing for you....

As we age, it can be easy to become isolated and withdraw from social connections. However, research has shown that staying social and maintaining strong connections with family, friends, and the community is key to living well as we get older. Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness are...

The School of Life says about themselves – we are “an organisation built to help us find calm, self-understanding, resilience and connection - especially during troubled times.” Founded by Alain de Botton (born in Switzerland and now living in London) The School of Life, is staffed by psychotherapists, artists, and...

When a relationship breaks down, it can be a difficult and emotional time for anyone involved. For older couples, the process of separating can be particularly complex, especially when it comes to issues such as housing and financial security. Where to live is often one of the first things to...

While making your home a safer place, make sure you also stay as fit an active as you can. If you have good strength and balance it's much easier to regain your footing if you trip. Outside Ensure that path surfaces and gradients are safe, clear and moss free. Steps...

What with earthquakes, extreme weather, fire and floods, New Zealand can indeed seem like the Four Elements’ playground. It’s natural to fear what is in store next but planning and preparation can make a huge difference to how we cope when bad days come. Think about who you expect to...

Common sense and a healthy dose of scepticism can keep you safe from those who want to rip you off. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Being fearful of others can lead older people to isolate in their homes. Fear of being scammed can...