Health, Wellbeing & Family

Maintaining and improving your health as you get older is critical. YOURLifeChoices can help you understand the Aged Care maze. While our Men's Health and Women's Health pages give you important information and updates.

YOURLifeChoices Medicare page provides the latest updates and news on Bulk Billing, the Federal Government 30% Private Health Insurance rebate and other relevant Senior Health information.

Home and Residence Choices for Older Australians

An important reference is the Department of Family and Community Services’s (FaCS) booklet Home and Residence Choices for Older People. It aims to help older Australians, their families and those who care for them, with important lifestyle and housing decisions.

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Reach out and help

Each year, a staggering 65,000 Australians attempt to take their own lives. Sometimes just reaching out to someone who appears to be struggling to cope can be enough to prevent an unnecessary death and help the sufferer get their lives back on track.

Mental illness, depression, health issues and grief are all issues which can attribute to someone attempting to take their own lives. Spotting the signs in someone who may be contemplating suicide is the first step to saving a life. If a friend, relative or colleague is going through a difficult time and appears to be stressed, anxious or depressed, the following signs may be indicative that they are contemplating suicide:

· often upset or angry
· emotional outbursts
· reckless – taking unnecessary risks at work or when driving
· drinking a lot or drink driving
· drug misuse
· fighting or law breaking
· withdrawn
· putting affairs in order
· dropping out
· attempted self-harm or previous attempts of suicide

The following physical changes may also indicate that someone needs help:
· physical changes – rapid weight loss, increase, failing to shower, change clothes or take care of appearance
· nothing’s much fun
· low energy
· can’t sleep properly
· little interest in food or sex
· often feeling unwell
· hurting a lot

If anyone you know is showing a combination of the signs above, or you recognise any of these signs within your self, then you should seek help straight away.  There are a number of organisations within Australia which can offer help and support to those in need. For more information about such organisations or to find out more about Suicide Prevention Day, click YOURLifeChoices link to Suicide Prevention Australia

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Prostate cancer screening

Having a simple blood test to determine the presence of prostate cancer may seem like the easy option, when compared to the alternative examination.  But just how effective are these blood tests and do they really help?

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the blood test that detects the presence of prostate cancer, usually combined with a rectal examination.  With no major cancer organisation endorsing PSA screening, is there really a need for it?  Even the urologist from Stanford University in California who originally highlighted the PSA test, has recanted his statement.

The treatment for prostate cancer, even when detected early on, is radical and toxic, therefore, one would like to be certain that it is necessary.  PSA can detect rogue cells that may never develop into cancers, or may do so only at a much older age.  This why PSA should not be used in isolation.

For more information on Prostate screening.

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Women’s health checks

Aside from standard health checks that should be carried out regularly, there are some tests that women should have.

Breast cancer – self checking is important and for women between 50 and 69, a mammogram every two years is recommended.  Mammograms are free for women over 40 and women over 70 can continue to have mammograms but should consult their doctor before hand.

Cervical cancer – all women who have been sexually active and have not yet gone through the menopause should have a pap smear every two years.