Information

Dementiais caused bydifferent diseases of the brainThese diseases affect the parts of the brain w... show more

Dementiais caused bydifferent diseases of the brainThese diseases affect the parts of the brain which are normally used forlearning, memory & language

Exercise and older people

As we get older we need to ensure we keep ourselves physicall... show more

Exercise and older people

As we get older we need to ensure we keep ourselves physically active. Taking up a programme of regular physical activity is one of the most important steps older adults can take to keep ourselves healthy and maintain our quality of life.

Physical activity does not have to be strenuous. The level best suited for older people is described as ‘moderate intensity’, practiced for at least 30 minutes on five or more days of every week. This should bring a little sweat to your brow and cause your heart to beat a little faster and your lungs to breathe deeper and faster, but not out of breath.

Activities could range from stretching, working in the garden or washing the car, to lifting weights or cans or even employing yoga and Tai chi. A combination of these could help improve strength, balance, flexibility and aerobic fitness.

Health benefits

Even a moderate amount of physical activity can bring significant health benefits, including:

• Improved blood pressure
• Decreased risk of coronary artery disease
• Improved heart failure symptoms and decreases hospitalisation rate
• Improved cholesterol levels
• Decreased risk of diabetes
• Helping the body use sugar more efficiently
• Decreased bone-density loss in postmenopausal women
• Decreased hip and vertebral fractures
• Decreased risk of falling
• Improved function and decreases pain in osteoarthritis
• Improved quality of sleep
• Improved mental function and short-term memory
• Decreased rate of depression
• Potentially decreased risk of colon, breast, prostate, and rectal cancers
• Decreased risk of obesity
• Helping maintain muscle and physical functioning.

Remember, modest increases in how long you live are possible even if you don't begin exercising until 75 years of age. Thus any activity for older people is better than none.

Important general guidelines

• Talk to a health professional before starting a physical activity programme to identify your limits
• Some minor soreness or stiffness is to be expected at first, but pain is a warning signto stop
• If you have been inactive for years, start with about 5 to 10 minutes of activity at a time, and increase gradually as you get more comfortable
• Choose activities you enjoy and try to mix your activities.

Caution signs

Stop exercising if you develop any of the following:

• Chest or upper abdominal pain that may spread to the neck, jaw, upper back, shoulder, and arms (call for help if this should occur as chest pain can be a signal of a heart attack)
• Panting or extreme shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Persistent pain, joint discomfort, or muscle cramps.

Go for Life

“Go for Life” is the national programme for sport and physical activity for older people. This programme aims to empower and enable older people by reaching out to active retirement associations, senior citizens groups, day care and community centres around the country to ensure that older people are more active, more often.

For more information log on towww.olderinireland.ieback to topOther sources of informationClick here forHSE Health CentresClick here forHSE Local Health OfficesHSE National Information LineMonday to Saturday, 8am-8pmCall Save: 1850 24 1850Email:info@hse.ieSenior HelplineLoCall: 1850 440 444Email:info@thirdageireland.ieWebsite:www.thirdageireland.ie/what-we-do/14/senior-helpline/The Senior Helpline provides opportunities for older people to talk to someone of their own age group for the price of a local call from anywhere in Ireland. Callers can talk to one of the older volunteers and all calls are taken in the strictest of confidence.Active Retirement Ireland124 The Capel BuildingMary’s AbbeyDublin 701-8733836Email:-info@activeirl.ieActive Retirement Ireland is the largest national network of local and community based voluntary groups involving older people in Ireland. We believe that getting older is not a barrier to continuing to enjoy life, maintaining dignity and independence, making new friendships, acquiring new skills, sharing experiences and contributing to the community. Joining your local active retirement association is one of the best ways of achieving these aims.Citizen’s Information CentresLoCall: 1890 777 121Monday to Friday, 9am-9pmWebsite:www.citizensinformation.ie

Statement:

It is the policy of Newpark Care Centre to respond to and aim to resolve tho... show more

Statement:

It is the policy of Newpark Care Centre to respond to and aim to resolve those complaints that residents / families may have regarding the standard of service, actions or lack of actions by staff employed at Newpark.

OBJECTIVE:

To ensure that residents / families have a forum whereby complaints can be expressedTo ensure that this procedure allows for a practical and logical sequence wherebycomplaints can be dealt with To ensure that complaints are reacted to without undue delayCOMPLAINT: An expression of dissatisfaction however made about the standard of service, actions or lack of actions by staff

ACTION:

1. On receipt of a complaint the Staff Nurse on duty must decide whether thecomplaint can be resolved to the satisfaction of the resident / family without the necessity of completing a complaints form
2. If the complaint cannot be resolved initially, the Staff Nurse on duty must reassure the resident / family that the matter will be dealt with and reported onwards in writing by the staff member tothe Director of Nursing / Complaints officer as soon as possible.
3. The Staff nurse on duty must then complete a complaints form signed and dated outlining the full details of the issue raised.
4. When brought to the attention of the Director of Nursing/ Proprietor the complaint will then be dealt with by them
5. A meeting may be arranged with the complainant to review the situation and to seek a possible resolution to the issue.
6. The Proprietor MUST be informed by this stage
7. Further meetings maybe necessary in order to find a resolution to the issue.
8. Minutes will be taken at all meetings
9. Outcomes / resolutions will be discussed and decided on with time frames
10. The complainant will then receive in writing the outcomes as decided with a proposed closure date to the complaint if the complainant is satisfied
11. If no response is received from the complainant within the proposedtime frame the complaint will be deemed closed
12. If the complainant remains unsatisfied and the complaints process appears exhausted a third party will be asked to review the complaint (M.Mc Nulty Marymount Care Centre , Westmanstown, Lucan, Co Dublin.

Complaints will be treated separately from Incidents / accidents and managed per the Newpark Care Centre Complaints policy which gives full details on the management of complaints.

Alternatively you may apply to the office of the ombudsman at the followingaddressThe Office of the Ombudsman 18 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2 LoCall 1890 22 30 30Or (01) 6395600

E-mail ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie

Online www.ombudsman.gov.ie

It informs family, friends and doctors of your wishes for your treatment in the event you can no ... show more

It informs family, friends and doctors of your wishes for your treatment in the event you can no longer communicate them yourself.It’s a legally binding document where you write down what healthcare treatments youwouldn’tlike in the future.You can write what treatments you would like to receive too but that is not legally binding. Health professionals are obliged to explain why they did not follow your preferences thoughIt relates specifically to your health care and your wishes with regard to your personal health.For example if a person did not want to be resuscitated in the event their heart stopped beating, or they did not want to be kept alive by a ventilator they could state that in the document.It is important to be specific about the circumstances in which you wish to refuse treatment and to make sure that you update your directive if you change your mind. You can also verbally revoke a directive at any timeIs that not euthanasia or assisted suicide?Absolutely not. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are both illegal in Ireland. A patient has the legal right to consent or refuse treatment even if their doctors strongly disagree with their decision

The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Think Ahead form allows you to specifically document an Adva... show more

The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Think Ahead form allows you to specifically document an Advance Healthcare Directive.

But you can write your Advance Healthcare Directive on any piece of paper and as long as it is signed, dated and witnessed by two people it is valid. Both witnesses need to be over 18 and at least one of them must not be a member of your family and preferably should not be your attorney or your designated healthcare representative. If you don’t want to write it downyou can make a voice or video recording of your Advanced Healthcare Directive.

The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Think Ahead form is available for free on-line at show more

The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Think Ahead form is available for free on-line at https://www.thinkahead.ie/ Hard copies are also available from The Irish Hospice Foundation – contact 01 6793188 for more details.. Some people may like to discuss their options with their GP but that this is not necessary. There is also no need to consult a solicitor. But if you would like to you will incur solicitor fees.

An Advance Healthcare Directive is recommended no matter what your age. However, you don’t ... show more

An Advance Healthcare Directive is recommended no matter what your age. However, you don’t have to fill one out. It is not mandatory.

It means there is no decision making burden placed on family members if your healthcare wishes an... show more

It means there is no decision making burden placed on family members if your healthcare wishes and preferences are known to them. In the absence of your directive end-of-life decisions will be made by your healthcare team. However a directive makes it easier for healthcare professionals too because they know what a person’s wishes and preferences are in different healthcare situations that might arise.

If you have been diagnosed with an illness having an advance healthcare directive will give you peace of mind and help you to focus on living well. Planning for end-of-life care in advance gives people and their families’ peace of mind during their final days, according to research.

There will eventually be an Office of Decision Support Services and a record of valid Advanced He... show more

There will eventually be an Office of Decision Support Services and a record of valid Advanced Healthcare Directives will be kept there. Until that office is set up it is recommended that you tell the people that are likely to be there at the time of an emergency.Your GP is one option. But If you are keeping the document at home you should tell family members or friends where it is.

You are ultimately relying on family and friends to tell healthcare professionals about the direc... show more

You are ultimately relying on family and friends to tell healthcare professionals about the directive if they are unware of it until a registry is established in the Office of Decision Support Services. Some people sometimes carry their directive with them

Yes, you can and you will. The Advance Healthcare Directive only comes into play if you losedecis... show more

Yes, you can and you will. The Advance Healthcare Directive only comes into play if you losedecision making capacity and issues you have outlined in the document arise. Up until that point your healthcare professional will presume you have decision making capacity.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. It has beenenacted and is on the Statute Books ... show more

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. It has beenenacted and is on the Statute Books but hasn’t been commenced.

It’s a really important step for Ireland in promoting human rights. It was a necessary step... show more

It’s a really important step for Ireland in promoting human rights. It was a necessary step for Ireland to take in ratifying the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006. It supports the autonomy of all people regardless of any disability. So it enables people with disability to be treated the same as a person who doesn’t have any disability.

The Constitution of Ireland also indicates the rights of bodily integrity and promotes the autonomy of people.

Yes. Court rulings have ‘upheld’ a person’s right to decide what they wouldn&rs... show more

Yes. Court rulings have ‘upheld’ a person’s right to decide what they wouldn’t want in their end-of-life (health)care

What this legislation brings is a framework to underpin that. It provides the structures to support the operation of Advance Healthcare Directives which are already legally binding.

WHAT IS THINK AHEAD?

THE PURPOSE OF THINK AHEAD IS TO HELPMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TALK AB... show more

WHAT IS THINK AHEAD?

THE PURPOSE OF THINK AHEAD IS TO HELPMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TALK ABOUTAND RECORDTHEIR PREFERENCES IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY, SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH.

• Think Aheadis an idea that came to life through feedback from people like you —people from all walksof life, all ages and all levels of health across the country.
• The idea was communicated during a public consultation carried out by theForum on End of Life in Irelandin 2009-2010.
• Together, members of the public, emergency services, medical, legal and financial professionalsrecognised the importance of planning ahead to make sure that an individual’s right to make decisionsfor themselves is honoured. Input from all groups helped to produce the final version of theThink Aheadform.The formwill guide your thoughts on planning for your end of life and protect those close to you from the additional stress from having to guess what you may have wanted.

Think Aheadisthe flagship project of theForum on End of Life in Ireland,which was launched in March 2009 byPresident McAleese. Following a public consultation identifying issues of concern to the public, an action plan was devised. Central to this is developing initiatives to help the public engage with end-of-life issues and plan their own responses. The Forum is guided by a National Council, chaired by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness,and is an initiative of theIrish Hospice Foundation.

Take time to follow this link for further clarity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdy90dh7zg

The move to nursing home care understandably brings with it some trepidation. It’s importan... show more

The move to nursing home care understandably brings with it some trepidation. It’s important to realise that nursing homes are simply a ‘home from home’ that employ specialist, caring staff to support you in your daily living requirements and enable you live a fulfilling life within a friendly, community environment. Your move to a nursing home will ensure you are provided with the specialist care and support suited to your daily living requirements. Meeting your care requirements will be a dedicated, committed and caring team. They will implement a care plan designed around your health and general needs. While excellent levels of care are provided, it is important to consider which home will best suit your daily living and healthcare requirements. You have the right to choose where you wish to live. Resident choice is enshrined in the legislation governing the Nursing Home Support Scheme, commonly known as Fair Deal. It is the state support mechanism that has been designed to make nursing home care affordable. Once an applicant is approved under the scheme, it’s their choice as to which home they want to live in.What Attributes should you look for:     Before you start to look at nursing homes available to you, it’s a good idea to make a list of the ideal attributes you would wish for from the nursing home. If you are assisting someone to move into a nursing home, involve them in making the decision as much as possible. If they are not able to communicate, it is important to bear their values and preferences in mind. The attributes that are worth considering include atmosphere, the food and recreational activities , that special needs can be accommodated as well as the preferences you or your relative might have. How to Choose ï‚·Find out what nursing homes are in your area. ï‚·Create a shortlist based on the quality of care provided and comparisons with your ‘ideal attributes’ ï‚·Arrange a visit to the nursing home(s) that most interest you. There is no substitute for seeing a place for real. Please note that nursing homes are busy places and primarily focussed on the care of their residents, so it is advisable to make an appointment beforehand. When visiting the nursing home, you should: ï‚·Take a formal tour with the Director of Nursing or designated deputy. ï‚·Ask questions. This is your decision and you should have all the information you need to make it. ï‚·Look around to get a better picture of the services, activities and quality ofcare for the residents. Questions to consider; While you are carrying out you research on nursing homes here are some helpful tips to consider ï‚·Is the nursing home close to family and friends? So they can visit often. ï‚·Are you able to bring in small personal possessions from home?ï‚·Does the nursing home have regular scheduled activities for you to participate in ? ï‚·Are residents and or family encouraged to participate in development of care plans ï‚·Can the nursing home cater for special needs a resident might have ?