15 April 2013

SDoHAN has a blog


SDoHAN has a blog! I’m aware that many people want to ‘network’ and discuss issues. To try and facilitate this I have set up a blog and I’m hoping this will help, at least a little. I toyed with the idea of Facebook but realise that not everyone is keen on FB. So I hope the blog is a good idea. I think you can ‘follow’ it so that you get updates when people post. I welcome your feedback. I welcome the input of more social media savvy people than me too! I realise that there is always more that could and should be done but please bear with me while I sort through some ‘organisation’ issues and please know that this work is largely voluntary on my part.


What did you think? Care to share your thoughts on the blog?

There appeared to be some notable deficiencies in the document discussed. I would urge Tasmanians to make comment on the proposed Framework.

3 comments:

  1. Thankyou Miriam for all your hard work and for sending the blog link. I went to a discussion yesterday (Tuesday 16 April) at the Heart Foundation, hosted by the Planning Institute of Australia, at which Planner Rob Nolan outlined their plan (funded by the Heart Foundation) to work up a State Policy on Health. I couldn't stay for the whole discussion but was very heartened to see the State Policy mechanism being revived in an altogether new light (as opposed to State Coastal Policy for eg.). I will ask Rob if I can post the concept on here.
    Cheerio,
    Michelle Foale.

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  2. Thank you for this information – it is very interested.
    One issue seems to be missing in most of the documents: aged pensioners’ issues are not mentioned and this ranges from lack of affordable housing to poor nutrition due to high costs of good food e.g. fruit and vegetables.
    In my position working with elderly from CALD communities we find the only good meal some of our clients have during the week is the one provided through our Adult Day Centres.

    The cost of heating a home is far too high for many aged pensioners who end up trying to live in a very cold house and try to keep warm using blankets etc. or heat one room only.
    Council rates, medical costs and long waiting periods for medical procedures in the public system e.g. hip replacements add to the poor situation of many elderly who have high assets (a house for the children to benefit from) but low income / cash flow. This means that many elderly are unable to feed themselves properly, enjoy good medical support or keep warm through our cold winters. Many are forced to sell their only assets (their home to live in some comfort and as a consequence receive even lower pensions. Our elderly deserve a good life after all the hard work they have done through their lives to support their families and Australia. Even those who had good superannuation have been hit very hard by the economic problems and are struggling to live on their super. I could go on and on!

    Could this issue be bought up or added to the agenda of the next meeting?

    Kind regards,
    Suzanne F

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  3. This report just released by the AIHW is probably worth a look: The desire to age in place:
    http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129543093

    Media release

    Older Australians, especially home owners, want to age at home
    Over 90% of older Australians intend to stay in their current accommodation rather than move to aged care or move at all, and this intent is strongest among older people who own their own homes, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

    The report, The desire to age in place among older Australians, examines the housing circumstances of older Australians by different tenure type and the desire to age there.

    It looks at older people who own their home outright (about 73% of older households), those paying a mortgage (5%), and those who rent their home privately or through social housing (10% and 8% respectively).

    'Most older Australians say that they desire to "age in place"—that is, to remain in their current accommodation as opposed to moving into specialised care, or even moving at all,' said AIHW spokesperson Geoff Neideck.

    'This report shows that older people who are outright home owners not only intend to move less, they actually move less than other household tenure types.'

    Older home owners exhibit the highest levels of satisfaction with their housing compared with older mortgagees, private renters and social housing tenants. They were least likely to say that they could not afford to move.

    Mortgagees were unique in that even at older ages the most common reason given for actually moving was to upsize.

    Private renters as a group appear least satisfied with their housing conditions.

    'The majority of older private renters intend to move in the next 5 years and report the fewest number of reasons for wanting to stay in their current home,' Mr Neideck said.

    'They also move most frequently, despite expressing anxiety about this.'

    For most households, location is the most often reported reason to stay, followed by comfort and then finances. An exception to this is social housing tenants, who reported that financial considerations were most important.

    The AIHW is a major national agency set up by the Australian Government to provide reliable, regular and relevant information and statistics on Australia's health and welfare.

    Canberra, 17 April 2013

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