The Truth About Ageing

Welcome to our Home Care Packages refresher episode! If you want to deep dive back into previous episodes we do have the following available: E2 - unpacks all the different home care options in Australia E3 - how to access My Aged Care & what they will ask you E5 - goes into detail about Home Care Packages E6 - discusses how to choose a service provider In today's episode we refresh the b...

Today we're flowing off the back of E30 and discussing how we can best support our loved ones during the pandemic. COVID-19 has challenged aged care services in many ways, so today we take some time to unpack what we can do to make sure our loved ones are feeling seen, supported and cared for. I've condensed my 5 Top Tips below: 1. Coordinating grocery delivery online 2. Looking into mea...

Today the lovely Amanda is back to chat all about the impact of COVID-19 on Community and Residential Aged Care services. Amanda generously shares her experience of connecting with her Grandma who lives with advanced dementia in a residential care facility throughout the pandemic. Whilst this episode doesn't speak specifically about restrictions in your state or impacts on individual service...

Today we have the lovely Danielle and Kim back on the pod to continue unpacking End of Life doula work. We discuss when is best to access an End of Life doula, how the service can be funded and things they wish more people knew about End of Life care. Danielle and Kim share a beautiful message about how discussing death and dying allows us to destigmatising the experience and appreciate each livin...

E27 is our first interview episode of 2022 and it's a pretty special one! Today we talk with Danielle Coppleson & Kim Somerville who are End of Life Doula's from New South Wales.  Danielle & Kim work alongside individuals and their families to support them through their end of life journey.  End of Life Doula's provide emotional, mental, spiritual & practical support for...

Welcome to The Truth About Ageing in 2022! In most exciting news... *drum roll please*... we have a website! Please feel free head over to www.thetruthaboutageing.com.au to suss our new space.  We have more info about the how the podcast began, links to all our episodes and most excitingly a 'resource' tab that helps you search previous episodes by topic e.g. dementia, home care, positiv...

It seemed a fitting way to end 2021 with my favourite human - my beautiful Grandma! We spend today's episode reflecting on the highs and lows of 2021, what she's looking forward to in 2022 and wrap up the year that was. She's a very generous sharer and just one of the best humans you'll ever meet. Thank you so much to anyone who's tuned in across the last 6 months - I&apos...

As this year comes to a close, we take some time to reflect on our highlights, challenges & moments we're grateful for in 2021 + set some intentions for 2022. I challenge you to complete this yourself, but to also share this activity with a loved one. The five questions are: 1. What have been your highlights of 2021? 2. What have been some of the most challenging moments of 2021? 3. What...

This week we're staying light & cheerful and most definitely in the Christmas Spirit! Today's quick tip episode is 5 activities you can do with Seniors in your life. Whilst for many of us Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year (queue Buble, Mariah & any other Christmas album I can get my hands on!), it can also be an incredibly isolating and lonely time for those withou...

Today's ep is part two of an interview with my beautiful Mum, Steph. Steph is a life coach with 15 years experience working in the field of positive psychology with clients of varying ages. Over the two episodes we discuss specific positive psychology tools that can be implemented as we age that focus on promoting wellbeing and re-wiring our brains to help us focus on some of the good in our...

Today's guest is a fave of mine... my beautiful Mum! Not only is she an absolute legend, but she has 15 years experience in positive psychology & working with people as a life coach. Today we unpack what positive psychology and positive ageing is, how we can re-wire our brains to focus more on the positives (yay for neuroplasticity!) and what 5 tools we can use and implement in our day-to...

We've spent the last few episodes talking about a good death & planning for dying, so now we're moving to the other side of that, positive ageing! Today we unpack 5 key tips for ageing well - they are probably all things you've heard preached about before, but hopefully today's episode gives you some tangible ways to incorporate them into your every day life. We talk about:...

Today's episode is dedicated to my beautiful step-Nan, Jean. Little Jeanie died in hospital a little over a month ago and it was an absolute privilege to be present for her end-of-life care. It was a timely reminder of how beautiful death and palliative care can be in any physical environment.   We talk about what palliative care is, when someone is considered palliative vs. end of life care...

Welcome back! Today we're talking about Advance Care Planning. So what is an Advance Care Plan? Essentially it's a document that captures your wishes for your health and end of life, if you were unable to communicate them yourself.  Each state has different Advanced Care Planning documents and today we talk about why they're important, what Substitute Decision Makers are and when th...

Being the primary carer for a loved one can be an emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting task and also one of life's great privileges. In today's episode we talk about the signs and symptoms of carer stress and carer burnout, how to prevent carer stress, how to ask for help & also what help is available. Shout out to all the incredible carer's in the community - you are...

How common are UTI's? How do they present in older adults? What causes a urinary tract infection? In today's quick tip episode we discuss how UTI's are 6x more common in older Australian's over the age of 65. We talk about how UTI's can be particularly challenging to diagnose for older adults with cognitive impairments, as they may be unable to communicate the symptoms the...

How do you respond when someone is searching for their mother who passed away 20 years ago? What do you do if someone is repeatedly alleging someone stole their keys? Welcome to part two in our behaviours associated with dementia episodes. If you haven't listen to ep 15, I'd encourage you start there to hear behaviours 1-3. Today we discuss repetitive behaviours and suspicions & delu...

What does dementia actually look like? What are some of the behaviours associated with dementia? How do I help support someone living with dementia? Over E15 & E16 we unpack 5 common behaviours associated with dementia - how they present, what to do when someone is experiencing them & when to get more help. In part one we cover: memory loss & confusion, wandering and aggression & f...

What is normal ageing vs. early signs of dementia? In today's episode we unpack 10 signs of dementia, how they present and how it compares to normal ageing or human behaviour. We also discuss what to do if you present with multiple warning signs and what the next steps are. If you feel you or a loved one may be experiencing signs of dementia you can head to www.dementia.org.au or www.dementia...

The 20th to 26th September is Dementia Action Week in Australia, so it felt like the perfect time to dive into all things dementia! Today we talk about what dementia is, some of the most common types of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia & Lewy Body Dementia) and where to go to for more information and resources! Next week we'll be unpacking some of the top 10 signs and...

Q&A part two is with powerhouse guest and my gorgeous friend Sophie Wauchope. Sophie has worked in the aged care sector for many years as a General Manager of an aged care home and in the community running a regional CHSP program. If you haven't listened to part one, jump back to episode 11 to meet Soph and hear the first half of our chat. Today we talk about what to do when people don&ap...

What does it cost to live in an aged care home? What on earth is a RAD or a DAP?! What does respite care cost? And most importantly... how do I know a facility is a good one? Today we answer questions that have been sent through to the podcast with my beautiful friend, Sophie Wauchope. Sophie has worked in the aged care sector for many years as a General Manager of an aged care home and in the com...

Is Residential Aged Care the same as a nursing home? What is respite? How do I move to an aged care facility if I want to? Today's episode is all about finding a bed! We cover the history of Residential Aged Care Facilities, how to find available beds, the best way to try before you buy and how to avoid getting to 'crisis' point. As always, you can find us for more discussion @thetr...

Today's quick tip episode is more of a challenge... In episode 9 I unpack three questions that kick-start meaningful conversation and engagement. Based on a family tradition of discussing the 'best thing in your day, worst thing in your day and thing you're most grateful for', I discuss three questions I use regularly with clients to help them feel connected, understood and val...

Want to know what other options there are if living in your own home is becoming too much? Today's episode unpacks the many varied housing options available to ageing Australians and steps out the accommodation pathways. We cover downsizing to Retirement Living or Independent Living Units, accessing Serviced Apartments, what Supported Residential Facilities are, the purpose of Hospice Care &a...