Active Ageing Australia

LifePlus! Kit

The LifePlus! Kit was developed by Active Ageing Australia for the inaugural Active Ageing Week in 2007. Active Ageing Week was a great success due to the many different activities, seminars and information dissemination. The LifePlus! Kit was a highlight of the week giving invaluable information on a number of issues of particular relevance to the ageing community.

Active Ageing Australia, with its partners, has now made this information available on a daily basis giving you direct links to the information through our partner’s websites.

Take a couple of minutes and answer the LifePlus! Kit questionnaire and get on your way to adding life to your years…

Active Ageing Australia ph: 08 8232 9077

LifePlus! Index... adding life to years

Making active lifestyle choices will have a positive impact on your physical, social and mental well-being. The questions below will help you assess your current situation.

Do you:
1. Keep active in as many ways as you can? eg. walk or cycle instead of driving, choose the stairs instead of using a lift
2. Participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all days? eg. brisk walking, dig in the garden, mow the lawn
3. Include a wide variety of nutritious foods in your diet? eg. 2 Fruit and 5 Veg
4. Make healthy eating choices? eg. a diet low in saturated fats, salt and sugar, adequate amounts of water and/or other fluid, limited alcohol intake
5. Have an annual medical check up with your Doctor?

Are you:
6. Successfully managing a known chronic health condition? eg. diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis
7. Involved in lifelong learning? eg. new skill development, new language, crosswords, puzzles
8. Regularly engaged in a social network of friends, family and community? eg. service clubs, interest groups, hobbies
9. Maintaining an interest and pleasure in most of your usual activities?
10. Maintaining a positive attitude to getting older?

If you answered ‘no’ to any of these LifePlus! questions or if you just want some more information about making positive LifePlus! choices please call the Active Ageing Australia Hotline on (08) 8232 9077

Beyondblue
Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. People with depression find it hard to function every day. It has serious effects on physical and mental health, and is an illness that can go on for months if left untreated. There are many health professionals and services available to help with information, treatment and support.

Look at the beyondblue website for practical suggestions and important information for sufferers, family and friends.

www.beyondblue.org.au ph: 1800 13 11 14

Nutrition Australia operates through the National Council of The Australian Nutrition Foundation Inc. to promote the health and well being of all Australians by encouraging them to make informed food choices. Nutrition Australia has developed a very informative website that achieves over three million hits per month. Visit the site for frequently asked questions, nutrition articles, fact sheets, to preview and order publications, for a calendar of events, details of membership, recipes and a health club for active people.

www.nutritionaustralia.org ph: 03 9443 7442

South Australian Seniors and the Law - an information guide is a significant booklet which is designed to inform you of common legal issues and disputes you might face and provide contacts for information and assistance. To request free copies of the publication go to The Law Society of South Australia website.

www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/community/brochures ph: 08 8229 0200

Alzheimer’s Australia – Living with Dementia. The Association produces a range of brochures and Help Sheets on topics covering normal memory changes, various aspects of dementia and how to deal with specific issues, including information brochures in different languages. The beauty of the Mind your Mind signposts is the way they can work together. When all seven signposts are followed in combination as part of your lifestyle, is when you will enjoy the greatest benefit. Your lifestyle and habits can make a big difference to your health… and may reduce your dementia risk. It’s never too early to Mind your Mind.

www.alzheimers.org.au ph: 1800 100 500

The Heart Foundation’s Live Healthy to Live Longer campaign information is readily available on the Foundation’s website along with complete information, tips and useful facts on how to live longer. Everyone can do something to help prevent heart disease, including people who already have heart disease or who have had a heart event. The good news is that if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

www.heartfoundation.com.au ph: 1300 36 27 87

Go for 2 & 5. Most people know that fruit and vegetables are ‘good for you’. The fact is eating more fruit and vegies may be the single most important dietary change needed to improve health and reduce the risk of disease. It makes a difference in so many ways. The gofor2and5 website gives you facts about food and its energy sources, ideas on how to eat right and still have fun with lots of flavours and yummy drink recipes.

www.gofor2and5.com.au ph: 08 8226 6329

Office for the Ageing. South Australia has the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over in the nation. Currently 1 in 7 South Australians are aged 65 years and over, this will increase to 1 in 3 by 2051. The Office for the Ageing supports and administers a range of programs to assist older South Australians such as Home and Community Care (HACC), Aged Care Assessment Program (ACAP), Grants for Seniors (GFS) and Positive Ageing Development Grants (PADG) amongst others. The Office also administrates the Seniors Card, applications for which may be accessed through the Seniors Card website.

www.ageing.sa.gov.au ph 08 8207 0522

www.seniorscard.com.au ph 1800 819 961

Arthritis Foundation. As frustrating as any chronic condition can be, you shouldn’t allow it to stop you doing all the things you love doing. You can learn to manage your symptoms and attain a level of ‘wellness’ that allows you to get on with your life. The Arthritis Foundation website can assist sufferers and their carers with nutrition, relaxation techniques and how to lessen your frustration. Courses are available along with the Self-Management Guide Book.

www.arthritissa.org.au
email info@arthritissa.org.au
ph: 08 8379 5711 or (country free call) 1800 011 041

Be Active. Regular physical activity is important for everyone. Some benefits are: feeling better with more energy, improved sleep and added fun in your day. Enjoying better health through controlled weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower risk of problems like heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. You will also have a healthier state of mind with lower stress, better concentration and more self confidence. Being more active is great. Add healthy eating to the equation and you’ll feel even better. Lots of ideas and information on the website.

www.beactive.com.au ph: 08 8416 6677

Recreation SA. Looking for an age-friendly fitness centre or fitness professional? All the answers are at Recreation SA. Providing safe and effective exercise programmes for older adults requires specialised knowledge and practical training. Older adults may lack the knowledge and experience to determine whether the physical activity programme in which they are participating is safe and effective. Recreation SA will assist you in choosing an age friendly service for you or your family members.

www.recreationsa.org ph: 08 232 6477
email: recsa@tpg.com.au

The Senior is Australia’s premier newspaper group targeting the over 50’s demographic. The five publications present inspirational, insightful and informative articles across a broad range of topics and issues related to older Australians. Every month the full colour Senior Traveller supplement is full of holiday destinations and travel ideas aimed at the mature traveller. To access any of the state based newspapers or the Senior Traveller go to the website.