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Managing the Summer Heat

By UncategorizedNo Comments

Summer in Australia can be a challenging time for people living with a disability. The heat can exacerbate existing conditions, making daily activities more difficult.

Understanding how to manage the summer heat is crucial. It can significantly improve comfort, health, and independence during these warmer months.

This article aims to provide practical advice for managing summer heat for those lvng with a disability. We’ll explore strategies for staying cool, recognising heat-related illnesses, and making necessary adjustments to daily routines.

Whether you’re an individual with a disability or a carer, this guide will empower you with knowledge to navigate the complexities of summer heat effectively.

man in black jacket and white helmet standing on green grass field near body of water

Understanding Heat and Disability

Heat can have a profound impact on people with disabilities. Some disabilities can alter the body’s ability to regulate temperature effectively. This means heat waves can pose significant health risks.

Understanding these effects is essential for preventing heat-related health issues. It’s crucial to recognise that every person’s experience with heat can vary.

Factors like medication and mobility limitations may increase vulnerability to heat. This underscores the need for personalised support and strategies.

Being informed allows individuals and caregivers to take proactive measures. This ensures better preparedness and enhances comfort during the summer months.

Staying Hydrated and Cool

Hydration plays a critical role during the hot summer months. Therefor it is crucial to moniter and maintain healthy fluid intake. Adequate hydration supports temperature regulation and well-being.

Adopting various cooling strategies can keep heat stress at bay. For example, making simple changes in daily routines can enhance comfort.

Consider the following tips to stay hydrated and cool:

  • Keep water bottles accessible and drink regularly.
  • Use fans, air conditioning, or cooling cloths for comfort.
  • Opt for foods with high water content, like fruits.

By combining these strategies, managing summer heat becomes more manageable for everyone involved.

person holding sliced watermelon

Understanding and Responding to Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses can affect those with disabilities more acutely. It’s vital to identify early signs like dizziness or nausea. Acting swiftly reduces risks and promotes recovery.

If heat exhaustion symptoms appear, relocate to a cooler place immediately. Cooling down and hydrating can prevent further complications. Prioritise comfort and safety at all times.

Always consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen. Understanding and responding effectively can safeguard health and ensure continued summer enjoyment.

Adaptive Clothing and Sun Protection

Wearing adaptive clothing is essential for comfort during hot summer days. Lightweight, breathable fabrics help reduce heat stress. Choose materials that wick moisture away from the body.

Sun protection is equally important. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen safeguards against harmful UV rays. Complement this with hats and sunglasses for added protection.

Protective gear should fit well and be easy to use. Ease of use ensures independence and confidence throughout summer activities. Prioritising sun safety enhances both comfort and health.

Planning for Indoor and Outdoor Activities

Timing is key when planning outdoor activities during summer. Try to schedule them in the early morning or late evening. These times typically offer cooler temperatures.

On extremely hot days, prioritise indoor activities. Explore options such as swimming in a local pool or visiting air-conditioned spaces. These activities provide relief from the sun’s intensity.

Engage in gentle exercises like yoga or chair exercises indoors. These can help maintain fitness without overheating. Indoor activities foster enjoyment and relaxation, enhancing both well-being and independence.

black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses on beach sand

Home Modifications and Assistive Technologies

Home adjustments can significantly enhance comfort and independance during hot months. Installing ceiling fans and ensuring proper ventilation can make a big difference. Simple changes like using light-blocking curtains also help manage indoor temperatures.

NDIS participants should consider implementing assistive technologies to maintain a pleasant environment. Smart thermostats allow precise control over your home’s climate, adapting to your needs quickly. These technologies promote independence.

Keep cooling devices, like air conditioners and fans, well-maintained. Regular servicing ensures optimal performance when you need it most. Such attention helps create a cool, comfortable space where you can thrive despite the summer heat.

Accessing Support and Community Resources

Community resources play an essential role in staying cool and safe. Many organisations offer programs to help with cooling costs and services during the heat. These resources are crucial for maintaining health and comfort.

It’s important to connect with your local network for support. NDIS providers such as Premium Home Care Services can assist in accessing these resources. Accessing community helps ensure you receive the support you need, empowering you to navigate summer with confidence.

person in red sweater holding babys hand

Conclusion: Empowering Independence in Summer

Managing summer heat while living with a disability requires thoughtful planning and support. By using strategies like hydration, adaptive clothing, and community resources, comfort becomes achievable.

It’s vital to focus on independence and well-being. By utilising available tools and support systems, individuals with disabilities can fully enjoy the summer, embracing a life of empowerment and participation while maintaining choice and control.

December 17, 2024
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How can smart home devices help Older Australians at home?

By Aged CareNo Comments

Welcome, dear reader, to the future of aged care.

A future where smart home devices are not just fancy gadgets, but essential tools for independent living.

New technologies, with their voice-activated controls and automated systems, are changing the way we care for our aging loved ones. They’re helping to create safer, more comfortable environments for those who wish to age in place.

But how exactly do these devices work? And how can they make life easier for those who want to stay in their own home longer?

In this article, we will talk about smart home gadgets and how they can make life easier for older people in Australia.

So, whether you’re a caregiver, a family member, or an aged care client yourself, stick around. This guide is for you.

Older male using smart phone

by Timothy Buck (https://unsplash.com/@timothybuck)

Understanding Smart Home Devices and Their Role in Aged Care

Smart home devices are essentially everyday household items that have been upgraded with technology. They’re designed to automate tasks, provide entertainment, and enhance security.

But for older Australians, these devices offer so much more. They can be a lifeline, a means to maintain independence and control over their environment. Smart devices like speakers and locks can help with daily tasks, such as medication reminders and remote control access.

In essence, smart home devices are not just about convenience. They’re about empowering older people to live their best lives, on their own terms.

The Top Smart Home Devices for Enhancing Independent Living

Not every smart home gadget is equal when it comes to helping seniors live independently in their own homes. Some are more suited to the unique needs and preferences of the elderly.

Here are some of the top smart home devices that can make a real difference:

  1. Smart Speakers and Voice Assistants
  2. Smart Lighting and Environmental Controls
  3. Smart Security and Health Monitoring Systems
  4. Medication Management with Smart Devices

Top Smart Home Devicesby Paul Hanaoka (https://unsplash.com/@plhnk)

Smart Speakers and Voice Assistants

Devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home can make a big difference for older people who want to age at home. They can set reminders for medication, appointments, and daily tasks. This can be particularly helpful for those with memory issues. They can even play music and let you control other smart devices in your home.

Best of all, they’re voice-activated. This means they’re easy to use, even for people with mobility issues.

Smart Lighting and Environmental Controls

Smart lighting systems allow users to control the lighting in their home using their voice or a smartphone app. For instance, smart lighting can automatically illuminate paths at night, reducing the risk of falls.

Smart devices can also promote comfort. Imagine adjusting the room temperature or turning off lights without having to leave your cozy bed. This also has the added benefit of helping to manage energy usage and maintain a comfortable living environment.

Smart Security and Health Monitoring Systems

Smart security systems can provide peace of mind for both older people and their families. These systems can include smart locks, video doorbells, and even security cameras.

Watches like the Apple Watch, are now able to detect falls as well as changes in heart rates and other vital information. Monitoring systems like these can be a lifesaver in an emergency.

Medication Management with Smart Devices

Forgetting to take medication is a common issue for many older people. Using an automatic pill dispenser or a reminder tool such as a smart watch can assist you in taking your medications accurately and on time.

This kind of assistive technology can also alert caregivers if a dose is missed, providing an extra layer of safety.

Overcoming Challenges: Privacy, Security, and Ease of Use

While smart home devices offer numerous benefits, they also present certain challenges. Privacy and security are among the top concerns. After all, these devices are connected to the internet and collect data about your daily routines.

However, most smart home devices come with robust security features. Regular software updates can also help keep these devices secure. It’s crucial to understand these features and use them effectively.

Ease of use is another concern, especially for those who are not tech-savvy. Thankfully, many smart home devices are designed with user-friendly interfaces. Plus, there’s always the option of seeking help from caregivers or tech support.

So while challenges exist, they can be managed with the right knowledge and support.

The Future of Aged Care: Smart Homes and Independent Living

The future of aged care is looking brighter with the advent of smart home technology. These devices are not just about convenience, they’re about empowering older Australians to live independently.

Smart homes can adapt to the changing needs of individuals as they age. They can provide personalised solutions, from reminders for daily tasks to monitoring health and wellness.

In essence, smart home devices are transforming the way we approach aged care. They’re paving the way for a future where independent living is a viable option for more seniors.

Conclusion: Embracing Technology for a Better Quality of Life

In conclusion, smart home devices are more than just gadgets. They’re tools that can significantly enhance the quality of life for everyone as they age.

By embracing this technology, we can help our loved ones maintain their independence. Helping them feel more in control of where they are, which is important for their mental health.

So, let’s not shy away from these advancements. Instead, let’s welcome them with open arms, knowing they can make life easier, safer, and more enjoyable for all of us.

Contact Premium Home Care Service today and discover how our personalised care plans can help your family members live independently and comfortably in their own homes. Don’t wait, reach out to us now to learn more about our services and how we can support you or your aging loved ones.

August 20, 2024
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Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear

Communities seek their own innovative dementia facilities in absence of adequate services
March 5, 2023
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Home and living demonstration projects grant opportunity now open

By NDIS News

The NDIA invites organisations to apply for grants to deliver innovative projects that empower our participants to explore and understand their home and living possibilities.

Projects will test and evaluate different models for providing participants with high quality information, assistance and connections about home and living options.

Successful projects will:

  • empower participants to exercise more informed choice and control over their home and living supports and increase independence
  • test and evaluate models that deliver impartial and accessible information and assistance to participants looking to explore their home and living options.

There is up to $1.5 million in grant funding available over the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 financial years.

Grants will be between $80,000.00 (incl. GST) and $400,000.00 (incl. GST) depending on scope and complexity of the project design.

Grant applications close AEST 5 pm Thursday 20 April 2023.

March 4, 2023
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Media release from the Minister – Disability Ministers from around Australia set priorities for the year ahead

By NDIS News

This represents the first meeting of the Disability Reform Ministerial Council (DRMC) as represented in the new federation architecture, formerly the Disability Reform Minister’s Meeting.

As a Ministerial Council, the DRMC will now report directly to National Cabinet, signifying the importance the Australian Government is placing on matters affecting people with disability.

Minister for the NDIS, the Hon. Bill Shorten said the meeting was of national importance and is proof that governments are working together with people with disability to improve outcomes.

“Since coming into Government we have been steadfast in our efforts to help ensure no person with disability is left behind,” Minister Shorten said.

“It was good to see progress on key items of work that are improving outcomes for people with disability, including reducing hospital discharge delays.

“Together with State and Territory Ministers, we have mapped out our priorities for the next year, and discussed how we can work together to make real, tangible differences in the lives of people with disability around the country.”

Ministers agreed to a number of priorities for the year including improving outcomes and building evidence base; closing market gaps and ensuring access to quality and safe services; accessible communities; ensuring the NDIS and mainstream system work well together; and delivering the NDIS Review.

Minister Shorten welcomed special guest Mr Dylan Alcott AO to the meeting who shared reflections on his time as Australian of the Year and presented on his work in the sector.

“Mr Alcott’s work continues to put a national spotlight on disability rights and this year has been ground-breaking, from delivering the Get Skilled Access and Accenture NDIS 2.0 paper to launching the disability employment website The Field,” Minister Shorten said.

“I thank Mr Alcott for his tireless efforts advocating for a more inclusive Australia and commend his remarkable achievements this year.”

Ministers endorsed the report from the 2022 Australia’s Disability Strategy Forum, which provided an opportunity for people with disability to discuss and shape the implementation of the Strategy.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the Albanese Labor Government was focused on the many different ways the lives of people living with disability could be improved – from employment to the support frameworks for early childhood development.

Working alongside State and Territory Disability Ministers via DRMC, silos in policy development could be minimised, Minister Rishworth said.

“There are 4.4 million Australians living with disability – that’s one in six of us – and it’s important the supports we provide as Governments are embedded right across society,” Minister Rishworth said.

“The Albanese Government is committed to creating a better life for Australians with disability, and the Disability Reform Ministerial Council helps us share this commitment with all States and Territories.

“At a Commonwealth level we’re committed to supporting employers to understand and work with people with disability to create inclusive workplace cultures that allow people with disability to thrive. We’re also doing things like working on a National Autism Strategy and embedding supports for young people living with disability into our Commonwealth Early Years Strategy.”

Ministers also endorsed the work plan for the Australia’s Disability Strategy Advisory Council, which has a critical role in the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy, paving a clear way forward for the Strategy’s important work.

The Disability Reform Ministerial Council also:

  • Heard and discussed an update on the work of the NDIS Review.
  • Endorsed the report to National Cabinet on the Improving Care Pathways recommendations.
  • Discussed progress to reduce hospital discharge delays to 33 days down from 160 days in early 2022.
  • Discussed failure to meeting the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety target to prevent young people entering aged care and the need to work together across governments to tackle this issue.
  • Agreed to accelerate a nationally consistent approach to regulatory settings around restrictive practices.
  • Heard updates on the COVID-19 response for people with disability.
  • Endorsed the Supported Employment Principles which will guide a plan to evolution of the supported employment sector so that it remains viable, and better meets community expectations.

The next Disability Reform Ministerial Council will be held in March 2023.

Source: The Guardian

February 17, 2023
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Carers struggling to meet cost of living demands with little increase in government payments

By Aged Care, NDIS News

The payment and allowances for carers has not increased in nearly a decade and advocates say it is pushing already exhausted carers into more stress and poverty.

Annette Herbert is a carer for her adult daughter, Renee, who was born with cerebral palsy and later acquired a brain injury.

The pair now live in “an old rattler” in Adelaide’s northern suburbs — an area with a high rate of NDIS participants — after having to move from a beachside suburb to make ends meet.

Ms Herbert said she had barely seen an increase in her carer payment and allowance for 30 years.

“You get used to not having money and you get used to going without,” she said.

“It’s a travesty, it’s absolutely atrocious.

“I can’t think of a policy or strategy that the Australian government should be more ashamed of.”

Together, the mother and daughter grow, arrange and sell bouquets of flowers at the local farmer’s markets as a social outlet and a way to recoup some of the costs of their hobby.

Ms Herbert said if she were a paid disability support worker instead of a carer, she could earn the same amount working a two-hour shift on a Sunday than she does for a week of 24/7 care.

According to Carers SA, federal government spending on carer income had fallen since 2014.

It said when the carer allowance was first introduced, the rate was 25 per cent of what a couple on the age pension receive, now it is about 10 per cent.

Carers Australia reports that the current carer allowance would need to increase by 150 per cent to match that rate, which would cost an extra $1.9 billion a year.

‘A great Australian shame’

Carers SA CEO David Militz said the carer payment and carer allowance had not been increased — or reviewed — in nine years and had barely increased in the ten years prior.

He said unpaid carers saved the federal government more than $70 billion a year, but were significantly undervalued.

“Everyone at some point in their life will be a carer and it could happen really suddenly, that’s why this is a really important issue for the community,” he told ABC News.

“It’ll affect your work, your life and your social connections in the community.

“For those carers who have the really significant caring roles that have to stop work, that have no level of income apart from the carer payment, this is where the rubber hits the road.”

He said an individual carer could be up to $400,000 worse off over their lifetime and on top of that, they do not receive superannuation.

Mr Militz said they were negotiating with the federal government to change that as the carer pension had “lagged significantly behind” increases to the aged pension.

Ms Herbert said the amount of work required to manage her daughter’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) had forced her and many other parents to “abandon careers and paid work in an attempt to manage NDIS”.

“What NDIS has in effect done has made good lives and wealth for private for-profit providers,” she said.

“NDIS is screwing us to buggery and it’s a great Australian shame.

“Nobody is going to have regard for the lives of people with disability like devoted parents and there’s no price that you can pay for my contributions, but you could meet me halfway.

“Instead of being seen as leaders and champions of the human rights of people with disability, champions of safeguarding people from abuse, we’re seen as not really worth the time of day.”

She said Disability SA made a contribution towards water, telephone and electricity costs because their home was also considered a worksite, but the NDIS did not.

She said she had not received responses to her letters and emails to federal MPs.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the federal government was “committed to supporting carers and valuing the contribution they make” and the carer payment was indexed twice a year in March and September, alongside other income support payments.

“In November, along with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, I announced the establishment of the economic inclusion advisory committee,” Ms Rishworth said.

“This group is tasked with providing advice on options to boost economic inclusion and tackle entrenched disadvantage. It will also assess the adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of income support payments ahead of every federal budget.

“This includes pensions such as carer payment and other income support supplementary payments.”

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-15/payment-allowances-for-carers-remain-low-as-family-struggles/101971604

February 14, 2023
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Media release from the Minister – Taskforce targets alleged NDIS fraud

By NDIS NewsNo Comments

Three men will face court over fraud-related offences against the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), following the execution of search warrants early yesterday morning in Western Sydney.

The warrants, relating to alleged fraudulent activity totalling more than $3.3 million, came following an investigation by the Albanese Government’s Fraud Fusion Taskforce.

Early on Tuesday morning, Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers executed search warrants across three separate residences in Western Sydney.

The activity led to the arrest and charging of one man, with two other men being issued with Court Attendance Notices for offences including Obtain Financial Gain by Deception and Dealing In Proceeds of Crime.

The arrested man was granted conditional bail and will appear in court on April 4. The remaining two will first appear on March 21.

The charges relate to alleged work and services being undertaken for registered NDIS providers.

“The Fraud Fusion Taskforce is now able to draw on greater cross-agency collaboration, which means wider knowledge and a better ability to detect and catch any criminal who targets the NDIS,” Minister for the NDIS, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP said.

“My warning to any criminal attempting to defraud the NDIS – get off our scheme.”

It is alleged the three men, each known to one another, set up or acquired businesses as disability providers before going on to submit false claims for NDIS services that were never provided.

The latest arrests follow the earlier arrest of a Brisbane man for alleged fraud against the NDIS.

The man, who was arrested upon re-entering the country in June, had been facing one charge of General Dishonesty.

However, after further work by the NDIA, he is now facing 25 more charges relating to alleged fraudulent activity with a value of more than $430,000. He will face court on March 3.

Anyone with information about suspected fraud involving the NDIS should contact the NDIS fraud reporting and scams helpline on 1800 650 717, or email fraudreporting@ndis.gov.au.

Source: NDIS.gov

February 13, 2023
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